Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and platelet count as prognostic factors in ovarian malignancies.

OBJECTIVE: The objectives of the present study were to demonstrate the influence of neutrophils, platelets, and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in the ovarian cancer prognosis and to compare these parameters with benign ovarian neoplasms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Records of patients underwent surgery for ovarian cysts were evaluated. There were 72 malignant neoplasms and 213 benign neoplasms. Age, parity, histologic type, tumor stage, type of surgery performed, chemotherapy, disease-free survival, serum levels of tumor markers, neutrophils, lymphocytes, platelets, and NRL were recorded. The Mann-Whitney, the Chi-square test and multiple linear regression were used. A P-value < 0.05 was established as the significance level. RESULTS: Higher values of platelets, neutrophils, and NLR were found in malignant tumors (P = 0.0132, P = 0.0208, and P < 0.0001, respectively), while lymphocytes values were higher in benign group (P < 0.0001). Preoperative platelet count 300,000/mm3 was related to less aggressive histological types (P = 0.0148). NLR <3 was related to the initial stages (P = 0.0053), and patients with disease-free survival >24 months had most often neutropenia during chemotherapy (P = 0.0482). After multivariate analysis, platelets, NLR, and serum levels of CA15.3 were considered independent variables related to tumor staging (P = 0.028, P = 0.028, and P = 0.035, respectively). CONCLUSION: NLR and serum levels of platelets may represent potential prognostic factors in ovarian cancer, and they may also serve as therapeutic targets in the future treatment strategies.

Impact of Treatment Type on Overall Survival in ElderlyBrazilian Women with Breast Cancer

Objective: To analyze the survival of elderly patients with breast cancer according to the type of treatment used. Methods: A cohort study of women aged 80 or over with breast cancer registered with the Brazilian National Cancer Institute (Instituto Nacional do Câncer - INCA) between 2008 and 2009 was conducted. Prognosis was analyzed according to the cancer treatment performed: surgery, radiotherapy, or hormone therapy. Analysis of the overall 5-year survival rate was performed using the Kaplan - Meier method, and comparisons of curves were undertaken using the log-rank test. For multiple regression analysis, Cox regression was used, adjusting for age and clinical stage, considering values of p < 0.05 as significant. Data were all analyzed using the statistical package SPSS version 20. Results: 70 women with a mean age of 84.0 ± 3.7 years at diagnosis participated in the study. The median follow-up time was 37.1 months (range 0.5­75.5), and 31 deaths (44.3%) occurred during this time. The median survival time was 51.2 months (95% CI, 44.9­57.4), higher in those who underwent surgery (p = 0.012) and those who had hormone therapy (p=0.001). Treatment with surgery reduced the risk of death by 61.7% (HR 0.3; 95% CI, 0.1­0.6; p = 0.001) when adjusted for clinical stage and age at diagnosis. However, there was no significant benefit from radiotherapy (HR 1.2; 95% CI, 0.5­2.5; p = 0.694). Conclusion: Treatment with surgery and hormone therapy increased the survival of our Brazilian patients with breast cancer aged 80 or over.

Association between time spent sitting and diabetes mellitus in older adults: a population-based study / Associação entre tempo sentado e diabetes mellitus em idosos: um estudo de base populacional

Abstract By the middle of the last century, changes in the Brazilian economy and society triggered a rapid demographic transition characterized by an increased number of older adults in the population. Thus, Brazil has witnessed population aging, which was accompanied by an increased incidence of non-communicable chronic diseases. Some risk factors for the development of the chronic non-communicable diseases have been well established, such as overweight, tobacco and alcohol consumption, inadequate nutrition, and physical inactivity. Additionally, sedentary behavior has been related to significant deleterious effects on health, such as diabetes mellitus type 2, obesity and mortality. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between sitting time and diabetes mellitus in older adults. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 24 municipalities in the Regional Health Superintendence of Uberaba, MG. Selected subjects answered a structured questionnaire and underwent anthropometric assessment. A total of 3,265 elderly subjects, with a median time spent sitting of 240.00 (P25th=137.14 and P75th=330.00) minutes/day and a 20.0% prevalence of diabetes mellitus were detected. Adjusted logistic regression analysis showed that a sitting time of more than 330.00 minutes/day was positively associated with diabetes mellitus (OR=1.351, 95%CI: 1.057-1.729). It was concluded that older adults who daily sit for long periods of time have higher chances of having diabetes compared to those who sit for less time.

Resumo Em meados do século passado, transformações na economia e sociedade brasileira somaram-se para desencadear uma rápida transição demográfica, que se caracterizou pelo aumento de idosos. Assim, presenciou-se um envelhecimento populacional, que foi acompanhado pelo aumento da incidência de doenças crônicas não transmissíveis. Alguns fatores de risco estão bem estabelecidos para o desenvolvimento das doenças crônicas não transmissíveis, como excesso de peso, consumo de tabaco e álcool, alimentação inadequada e inatividade física. Adicionalmente, o comportamento sedentário mostrou-se relacionado a importantes efeitos deletérios à saúde, como, por exemplo, diabetes mellitus tipo 2, obesidade e mortalidade.O estudo teve como objetivo investigar a associação entre tempo sentado e diabetes mellitus em idosos. Estudo transversal, realizado em 24 municípios integrantes da Superintendência Regional de Saúde de Uberaba, MG. Os indivíduos selecionados responderam um questionário estruturado e foram submetidos à avaliação antropométrica. Foram analisados 3.265 idosos. A prevalência de diabetes mellitus foi de 20,0% e a mediana de tempo sentado de 240,00 (P25º=137,14 e P75º=330,00) minutos/dia. A análise de regressão logística ajustada demonstrou que o tempo sentado superior a 330,00 minutos/dia associou-se positivamente com a diabetes mellitus (OR=1,329; IC95%: 1,040-1,700). Pode-se concluir que os idosos que ficam sentados por longos períodos diariamente apresentam maior chance de ter diabetes mellitus quando comparados com aqueles que ficam sentados por menor tempo.

Proteomic identification of differentially expressed proteins during the acquisition of somatic embryogenesis in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.).

In the present study we have identified and characterized the proteins expressed during different developmental stages of Elaeis guineensis calli obtained from zygotic embryos. We were interested in the possible proteomic changes that would occur during the acquisition of somatic embryogenesis and therefore samples were collected from zygotic embryos (E1), swollen explants 14days (E2) in induction medium, primary callus (E3), and pro-embryogenic callus (E4). The samples were grinded in liquid nitrogen, followed by total protein extraction using phenol and extraction buffer. Proteins were analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and the differentially expressed protein spots were analyzed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (MS and MS/MS). Interestingly, we have identified proteins, which can be used as potential candidates for future studies aiming at the development of biomarkers for embryogenesis acquisition and for the different stages leading to pro-embryogenic callus formation such as type IIIa membrane protein cp-wap13, fructokinase and PR proteins. The results obtained shed some light on the biochemical events involved in the process of somatic embryogenesis of E. guineensis obtained from zygotic embryos. The use of stage-specific protein markers can help monitor cell differentiation and contribute to improve the protocols for successfully cloning the species. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Understanding the fate and dynamics of cells and tissues during callus formation is essential to understand totipotency and the mechanisms involved during acquisition of somatic embryogenesis (SE). In this study we have investigated the early stages of somatic embryogenesis induction in oil palm and have identified potential markers as well as proteins potentially involved in embryogenic competence acquisition. The use of these proteins can help improve tissue culture protocols in order to increase regeneration rates. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Environmental and structural proteomics.