Lymphatic vessel density and epithelial D2-40 immunoreactivity in pre-invasive and invasive lesions of the uterine cervix.

Objective: We sought to determine the significance of lymphatic vessel density (LVD) in pre-malignant lesions and carcinomas of the uterine cervix and to evaluate the prognostic value of lymphatic invasion and D2-40 positivity in tumor cells in the three histological types of invasive lesions. The correlation of LVD, lymphatic invasion and D2-40 positivity in tumor cells with EGFR and COX-2 expressions was also evaluated.

Methods: We studied 50 cervicitis, 50 low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL) (CIN1), 51 high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) (CIN2/CIN3), 49 invasive squamous cells carcinomas (SCC), 43 adenocarcinomas (AC) and 30 adenosquamous cells carcinomas (ASC).

Cyclooxygenase-2 and epidermal growth factor receptor expressions in different histological subtypes of cervical carcinomas.

This study was designed to evaluate the significance of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression in a series of cervical adenocarcinoma (AC), cervical adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC), and cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). One hundred thirty cases of cervical carcinoma (30 ASC, 50 AC, and 50 SCC) were analyzed for COX-2 and EGFR expressions using specific primary antibodies. Samples were scored semiquantitatively as follows: (-), 0% of immunoreactive cells; (+), <5% of immunoreactive cells; (++), 5% to 50% of immunoreactive cells; and (+++), >50% of immunoreactive cells.

Leishmania amazonensis: PKC-like protein kinase modulates the (Na++K+)ATPase activity.

The present study aimed to identify the presence of protein kinase C-like (PKC-like) in Leishmania amazonensis and to elucidate its possible role in the modulation of the (Na(+)+K(+))ATPase activity. Immunoblotting experiments using antibody against a consensus sequence (Ac 543-549) of rabbit protein kinase C (PKC) revealed the presence of a protein kinase of 80 kDa in L. amazonensis.

The chemistry of 6-hydroxyflavylium: zwitterionic base and p-quinoidal chalcones. A multiswitchable system operated by proton, electron and photon inputs.

The complex network of chemical reactions of the compound 6-hydroxyflavylium perchlorate was studied by different techniques including UV-vis absorption spectrophotometry, stopped-flow, electrochemistry, and photochemistry. The network is characterized by the formation of a very reactive zwitterionic base as well as by p-quinoidal chalcones. The trans-chalcone is metastable in very acidic solutions and exhibits reversible redox reactions, allowing to introduce for the first time in the flavylium network an electrochemical input.

Low-power laser in the prevention of induced oral mucositis in bone marrow transplantation patients: a randomized trial.

We investigated the clinical effects of low-power laser therapy (LPLT) on prevention and reduction of severity of conditioning-induced oral mucositis (OM) for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). We randomized 38 patients who underwent autologous (AT) or allogeneic (AL) HSCT. A diode InGaAlP was used, emitting light at 660 nm, 50 mW, and 4 J/cm2, measured at the fiberoptic end with 0.

Fluoride intake from drinking water and dentifrice by children living in a tropical area of Brazil.

Objective: To assess fluoride (F-) intake from water and toothpaste by children aged 18 to 36 months and to monitor the F- concentrations in the drinking water system in a tropical city of Brazil.

Methods: Children (n=58) aged 18-36 months, all lifetime residents of Penedo, state of Alagoas, Brazil, participated in this study. Water F- analyses were carried out in 7 different occasions at least a week apart.

Xylitol dehydrogenase from Candida tropicalis: molecular cloning of the gene and structural analysis of the protein.

Yeasts can metabolize xylose by the action of two key enzymes: xylose reductase and xylitol dehydrogenase. In this work, we present data concerning the cloning of the XYL2 gene encoding xylitol dehydrogenase from the yeast Candida tropicalis. The gene is present as a single copy in the genome and is controlled at the transcriptional level by the presence of the inducer xylose.

EGFR amplification and lack of activating mutations in metaplastic breast carcinomas.

Metaplastic breast carcinomas are reported to harbour epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) overexpression in up to 80% of the cases, but EGFR gene amplification is the underlying genetic mechanism in around one-third of these. In this study, EGFR gene amplification as defined by chromogenic in situ hybridization and protein overexpression was examined in a cohort of 47 metaplastic breast carcinomas. Furthermore, the presence of activating EGFR mutations in exons 18, 19, 20, and 21 was investigated.

Leishmania amazonensis: Biological and biochemical characterization of ecto-nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase activities.

The presence of Leishmania amazonensis ecto-nucleoside triphosphate triphosphohydrolase activities was demonstrated using antibodies against different NTPDase members by Western blotting, flow cytometry, and immunoelectron microscopy analysis. Living promastigote cells sequentially hydrolyzed the ATP molecule generating ADP, AMP, and adenosine, indicating that this surface enzyme may play a role in the salvage of purines from the extracellular medium. The L.

[An epidemiological study of sepsis in Intensive Care Units: Sepsis Brazil study].

Background And Objectives: Sepsis represents the major cause of death in the ICUs all over the world. Many studies have shown an increasing incidence over time and only a slight reduce in mortality. Many new treatment strategies are arising and we should define the incidence and features of sepsis in Brazil.

The occurrence of free D-alanine and an alanine racemase activity in Leishmania amazonensis.

Free D-amino acids are implicated in several biological functions. This study examined the presence of D-alanine in Leishmania amazonensis. Measuring chiral amino acid content by high-performance liquid chromatography we detected a significant amount of free D-alanine in promastigotes of these parasites.

Scale-free fuse network and its robustness.

The robustness and reliability of scale-free networks are tested as a fuse network. The idea is to examine the robustness of a scale-free network when links are irreversibly removed after failing. Due to inherent characteristics of the fuse network model, the sequence of links removal is deterministic and conditioned to fuse tolerance and connectivity of its ends.

Sugar metabolism in developing lupin seeds is affected by a short-term water deficit.

A short-term water deficit (WD) imposed during the pre-storage phase of lupin seed development [15-22 d after anthesis (DAA)] accelerated seed maturation and led to smaller and lighter seeds. During seed development, neutral invertase (EC 3.2.

Direct integration of pervaporation as a sample preparation method for a dedicated "electronic nose".

The present study investigates the possibility of monitoring the bioproduction of a complex aroma profile with an analytical electronic aroma-sensing technique, the so-called "electronic nose", combined with a pervaporative sample enrichment method necessary to overcome the ethanol interference on the sensors' response. It presents in detail the development of a direct integrated pervaporation-electronic nose unit for a simple and fast analysis, which are key criteria for this technique to be broadly implemented. The system developed was investigated using model solutions simulating the muscatel wine must fermentation.

Phenolic compounds in external leaves of tronchuda cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. costata DC).

Glycosylated kaempferol derivatives from the external leaves of tronchuda cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. costata DC) characterized by reversed-phase HPLC-DAD-MS/MS-ESI were kaempferol 3-O-sophorotrioside-7-O-glucoside, kaempferol 3-O- (methoxycaffeoyl/caffeoyl)sophoroside-7-O-glucoside, kaempferol 3-O-sophoroside-7-O-glucoside, kaempferol 3-O-sophorotrioside-7-O-sophoroside, kaempferol 3-O-sophoroside-7-O-sophoroside, kaempferol 3-O-tetraglucoside-7-O-sophoroside, kaempferol 3-O-(sinapoyl/caffeoyl)sophoroside-7-O-glucoside, kaempferol 3-O-(feruloyl/caffeoyl)sophoroside-7-O-glucoside, kaempferol 3-O-sophorotrioside, kaempferol 3-O-(sinapoyl)sophoroside, kaempferol 3-O-(feruloyl)sophorotrioside, kaempferol 3-O-(feruloyl)sophoroside, kaempferol 3-O-sophoroside, and kaempferol 3-O-glucoside.

Prevalence of human Papilloma Virus in HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients in the State of Bahia: a pilot study.

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) plays a central role in the development of cervical cancer. However, other coexisting factors, such as HIV infection, must be present for this to occur. We evaluated the prevalence of HPV in HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients in the city of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, and determined the most prevalent types of HPV in these patients.

Phenolic profile of hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) leaves cultivars grown in Portugal.

In this study, phenolic compounds of hazelnut leaves of 10 different cultivars with the same cultural, geographical, geological and climatic conditions were analyzed by HPLC/DAD and HPLC/DAD/MS/MS - ESI. Eight phenolic compounds (3-caffeoylquinic acid, 5-caffeoylquinic acid, caffeoyltartaric acid, p-coumaroyltartaric acid, myricetin 3-rhamnoside, quercetin 3-glycoside, quercetin 3-rhamnoside and kaempferol 3-rhamnoside) were identified and quantified. All of the analyzed samples showed a similar phenolic profile, in which myricetin 3-rhamnoside and quercetin 3-rhamnoside were the major compounds and caffeoyltartaric and p-coumaroyltartaric acids were present in vestigial amounts.

Effect of water stress on lupin stem protein analysed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis.

Lupinus albus plants can withstand severe drought stress and show signs of recovery 24 h after rewatering (RW). Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis was used to evaluate the effect of water deficit (WD) on the protein composition of the two components of the lupin stem (stele and cortex). This was performed at three distinct stress levels: an early stage, a severe WD, and early recovery.

Effect of drought and rewatering on the metabolism of Lupinus albus organs.

Alterations in the metabolism of Lupinus albus organs that result from and subsequently follow a period of severe water deficit (WD) are described. By means of 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), changes in the major metabolites were monitored in several plant organs (leaflets and petiole, roots, stem stele and cortex). During the stress, most of the leaves were lost and the stem functioned as a storage repository of sugars (glucose and sucrose) and amino acids (asparagine and proline).

[Multiple-causes-of-death related to tuberculosis in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, 1998].

Objectives: The goal of this paper is to investigate mortality related to tuberculosis in the state of S o Paulo, southeastern Brazil, according to multiple causes of death and their interrelation with other underlying causes.

Methods: The study investigated deaths related to tuberculosis that occurred in the state of S o Paulo in 1998. Data were obtained from the Fundação Sistema Estadual de Análise de Dados (State System for Data Analysis Foundation - SEADE) database.

Characteristics of HIV antiretroviral regimen and treatment adherence.

The relationship between characteristics of HIV antiretroviral regimens and treatment adherence was studied in adolescent and adult patients who underwent antiretroviral therapy from January 1998 to September 2000, at the Service for Specialized Assistance in Pelotas. The patients were interviewed on two occasions, and the use of antiretrovirals during the previous 48 hours was investigated by a self-report. Adherence was defined as use of 95% or more of the prescribed medication.

Structural phases of hexamethylenetetramine-pimelic acid (1/1): a unified description based on a stacking model.

The thermotropic phase diagram of 1:1 co-crystals of hexamethylenetetramine and pimelic acid (heptanedioic acid) is investigated. Three crystalline phases are identified at ambient pressure. Phase I is disordered, as revealed by diffuse rods in its diffraction pattern.

A biochemical and molecular characterization of LEP1, an extensin peroxidase from lupin.

An analysis of apoplastic extensin cross-linking activity in vegetative organs of Lupinus albus indicated that leaves contained the highest specific activity. Assays of peroxidases fractionated from this material demonstrated that this activity could be largely attributed to a soluble and apoplastic 51-kDa peroxidase, denoted LEP1. Relative to other purified peroxidases, LEP1 demonstrates high extensin cross-linking activity and can be classified as an extensin peroxidase (EP).

Oxidative parameters and mortality in sepsis induced by cecal ligation and perforation.

Objective: This study assessed parameters of free radical damage to biomolecules, mitochondrial superoxide production, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities and their relationship to sepsis mortality.

Design And Setting: Prospective animal study in a university laboratory for experimental.

Subjects: 140 male Wistar rats.

Structural changes of hexamethylenetetramine and undecanedioic acid co-crystal (HMT-C11) as a function of the temperature.

HMT-C11 belongs to the family of adducts formed by the co-crystallization of N(4)(CH(2))(6) molecules (hexamethylenetetramine or HMT) and aliphatic dicarboxylic acids HOOC(CH(2))(n - 2)COOH with 5 View Article and Find Full Text PDF