TP53 codon 72 and intron 3 polymorphisms and mutational status in gastric cancer: an association with tumor onset and prognosis.

Although TP53 alterations have been studied in human tumors, data considering the role of two common TP53 polymorphisms (Pro72Arg in codon 72 and Ins16bp in intron 3) and their associations with TP53 mutations in gastric cancer are very limited. Thus, we analyzed these parameters taking into consideration the clinicopathological data. DNA from 106 gastric tumor samples was available for TP53 Pro72Arg and TP53 Ins16bp polymorphism genotyping by PCR-RFLP and PCR, respectively. The mutational status of the TP53 exons 5-7 was assessed by the single-strand conformational polymorphism test. The TP53 72ArgArg genotype was statistically associated with patients aged ≥65 years (p = 0.039), and the intron 3 A2A2 genotype was correlated with late-stage tumors (III and IV; p = 0.043). Considering both polymorphisms, a negative correlation between the TP53 Pro-A1 haplotype and age <65 years (r = -0.211; p = 0.030) was found. Taking into account the TP53 mutations, the Pro/Pro genotype was positively correlated with the presence of exon 7 mutations (p = 0.049), and a correlation between this genotype and the number of mutations in TP53 was observed (p = 0.019). This study corroborates the understanding of TP53 polymorphisms in gastric carcinogenesis, especially regarding the genetic features in tumor onset and prognosis.

Interaction of MTHFR C677T and A1298C, and MTR A2756G gene polymorphisms in breast cancer risk in a population in Northeast Brazil.

Polymorphisms in genes encoding enzymes of folate metabolism are a focus of breast cancer risk studies due of the role of these enzymes in DNA methylation, synthesis, and repair. MTHFR, encoding for 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, is one of the most studied genes in this regard, but findings are controversial, and the majority of studies have analyzed polymorphisms individually. In this case control study, we examined the combination of the polymorphisms MTHFR C677T and A1298C with MTR A2756G, where MTR, methionine synthase, is an important enzyme of the folate cycle in the methylation pathway. One hundred and forty-two patients with breast cancer and controls were included and the genotypes were determined using PCR-RFLP. In the population studied, individuals carrying the polymorphic allele in the heterozygous state for both enzymes, MTHFR C677T and MTR A2756G, had an increased risk [odds ratio, OR=2.77 (95% confidence interval, CI=1.19-6.52)] for disease, compared to those with the wild genotype. In addition, individuals carrying the MTR 2756 genotype AG had an increased risk when this was combined with the MTHFR 1298 genotype CC [OR=5.13 (95% CI=0.87-38.82)]. No significant results were found from the analyses associating the MTHFR C677T and A1298C genotypes. However, when stratifying the patients by age (50 years old as the cut-off), patients over 50 years old had greater risk, with the presence of both MTHFR polymorphisms in the heterozygous state [OR=5.33 (95% CI=1.42-21.03)]. This study points out the importance of the interactions between the MTHFR C677T, MTHFR A1298C and MTR A2756G polymorphisms, and also highlights the relevance of the MTR A2756G polymorphism and age in breast cancer risk.

Programa de educação em reanimação cardiorrespiratória: ensinando a salvar vidas / Cardiopulmonary resuscitation education program: teaching people how to save lives

Parada cardiorrespiratória é a principal causa de morte no mundo. Observa-se falta de capacitação adequada da população para agir de forma eficaz diante dessa situação e, assim, aumentar as chances de sobrevivência das vítimas. Tendo em vista esse fato, foi criado, em 1996, o Programa de Educação em Reanimação Cardiorrespiratória (Perc), que tem como objetivo difundir conhecimentos acerca da reanimação cardiorrespiratória mediante a capacitação de leigos, acadêmicos e profissionais de saúde no Estado do Ceará. Ao longo de 16 anos, aproximadamente 8 mil pessoas foram capacitadas diretamente pelo Perc. Entretanto, é difícil mensurar o benefício total pela difusão em cadeia do conhecimento pessoa a pessoa. Graças à experiência adquirida pelo Perc em reanimação, confirmamos a deficiência do tema no Ceará para os mais diversos públicos. Contudo, seguindo as diretrizes lançadas pela American Heart Association (AHA) a cada cinco anos, o projeto vem conseguindo conscientizar leigos, acadêmicos e profissionais da saúde sobre a importância da reanimação e capacitá-los para agir satisfatoriamente diante de uma vítima de PCR.

Cardiac arrest is the biggest cause of death in the world. There is a lack of adequate training of the public in how to act effectively in these situations and thus increase the victim's chances of survival. Therefore, the Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Education Program (PERC) was created in 1996 with the principal aim of promoting knowledge about CPR by training laymen, health students and professionals in the Brazilian state of Ceará. Over the course of sixteen years, roughly 8,000 people have been trained directly by the PERC. However, it is hard to gauge the full extent of the benefits of this program due to the unlimited, chain diffusion of knowledge from person to person. Thanks to the experience acquired by PERC in CPR, it has been possible to confirm the level ignorance about the issue among the Ceará public. However, following the American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines released every five years, the program is raising awareness about the importance of resuscitation, training people to act satisfactorily when faced with a cardiac arrest situation.