Association of asthma risk factors and the prevalence of the disease in a population of Brazil.

Summary: The objective of our study was to evaluate the association between the previously described asthma risk factors and the prevalence of asthma in a population of Brazilian adults. A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted using data collected from 7891 patients. All patients in the database > 18 years of age were included. The following variables were collected from the health plan database: age, body mass index, smoking status, alcohol consumption, sedentary lifestyle, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and asthma diagnosis. The frequency of the collected variables was compared between patients with or without an asthma diagnosis, and logistic regression was performed. Of our total sample (7891 patients), 150 (1.9%) had asthma. The mean age of patients with asthma was 39.4 years. 1.4% of normal weight patients had the diagnosis of asthma, while 2.4% of overweight and 2.2% of obese patients had the diagnosis. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that a sedentary lifestyle and overweight and obesity were independently associated with asthma prevalence Odds Ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval): (1.61 (1.16-2.22) and 1.25 (1.03-1.52) respectively). Our data provide evidence that some clinical characteristics, such as sedentarism, overweight, and obesity, may be related to the prevalence of asthma in an adult population in southeastern Brazil. Such factors could be modified and better understood through multidisciplinary research and health programs that evaluate the risk factors for asthma in large populations.

Additional activation of the AR gene may be involved in the development of the castration resistance phenotype in prostate cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Several studies have already shown that changes in the AR gene may be associated with a more aggressive disease phenotype and even castration-resistant prostate cancer. Thus, we investigated cytogenetic and molecular alterations linked to AR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To evaluate AR methylation, we performed a cytogenetic-molecular analysis using fluorescence in situ hybridization that uses specific probes for the AR gene (Xq11.12) and the X chromosome centromere. For AR activity, we performed a qualitative analysis of human androgen receptor activity. To analyze the expression of AR in PC3 and LNCaP cell lines, we used qPCR assays. RESULTS: In the qPCR assay, we found downregulation of AR in the PC3 cell line compared with the LNCaP. We found the presence of X chromosome polysomy in PC-3 and LNCaP cell lines by FISH assay. In the HUMARA-Q assay, we found two X chromosomes/cell and the activity of both AR in the PC-3 cell line. In LNCaP cells, we found two X chromosomes/cell and methylation of only one AR. CONCLUSION: Castration-resistant prostate cancer phenotype represents a significant challenge in the setting of urological management. The X chromosomes and AR-linked alterations may contribute to a better understanding of the disease. However, further studies should be performed in an attempt to elucidate as much as possible the role of AR in the castration-resistant prostate cancer phenotype.

Spectrophotometric and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometric determination of titanium in ilmenites after rapid dissolution with phosphoric acid.

The use of 85% phosphoric acid in borosilicate conical flasks for the dissolution of ilmenites at 230 +/- 10 degrees C is reported. The samples were quantitatively dissolved in less than 13 min. Titanium was determined by both spectrophotometry and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry ICP-AES. Vanadium and iron were determined by ICP-AES. In several samples of ilmenites analyzed, the TiO(2) concentration was in the range 10.6-57.5% and those of FeO and V(2)O(5) were in the ranges 31.6-51.4% and 0.39-1.32%, respectively. In the spectrophotometric method, vanadium interference occurs only when the Ti V concentration ratio is <4. In all samples analyzed this ratio was around 12, resulting in no interferences due to vanadium. Hence the ilmenite dissolution procedure using phosphoric acid was compatible with titanium quantification by both spectrophotometry and ICP-AES.