Association of Polymorphisms in Cytokine genes with susceptibility to Precancerous Lesions and Cervical Cancer: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

Objectives: This study investigated the relationship between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in cytokine genes and the susceptibility to Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions (SIL), cervical cancer and HPV infection through a systematic review with meta-analysis. To verify the effect of SNPs, we also analyzed the transcription factor binding affinity using bioinformatics tools.Methods: Seven electronic databases (MEDLINE, Scielo, BIREME, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Science Direct) were searched for case-control studies.Results: A total of 35 relevant case-control studies were meta-analyzed, including 7 cytokine genes and 15 SNPs. SNPs in IL-17A (rs2275913, rs3748067); IL-17 F (rs763780); IL-12A (rs568408); IL-12B (rs3212227); TNFA (rs1800629, rs361525); IL-1B (rs16944); IL-6 (rs1800795); IL-10 (rs1800896) genes were associated with increased risk for cervical cancer. No association was observed between meta-analyzed polymorphisms and SIL. Additional bioinformatics analysis suggested a possible transcriptional regulation pathway of the TNFA and IL-10 genes through the MZF1 (TNFA -308 G > A and IL-10 - 1082A>G) and ZNF263 (TNFA -238 G > A) transcription factors binding.Conclusion: Overall, 10 SNPs in cytokine genes were associated with increased risk for cervical cancer. Therefore, in our meta-analysis, these SNPs demonstrated to be potential biomarkers for predicting or identifying cases of high risk for SIL and cervical cancer.

Green Tobacco Sickness among Brazilian farm workers and genetic polymorphisms.

OBJECTIVE: Green Tobacco Sickness (GTS) is an occupational illness caused by dermal absorption of nicotine from tobacco leaves. It affects thousands of farm workers worldwide. Brazil is the second tobacco producer in the world; despite this, there are few studies on GTS among Brazilian harvesters. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of GTS among a population of tobacco workers from a producing area in northeastern Brazil and investigate whether the occurrence of the disease was influenced by factors such age, gender and smoking status. In addition, it was investigated if there was association between the onset of GTS and genetic polymorphisms in genes that encode some detoxification enzymes. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect demographic, behavioral and occupational data from the referred workers. Polymorphisms were tested through the Polymerase Chain Reaction technique. RESULTS: The total prevalence of GTS found was 56.9%, with a significant difference between genders (71.7% for women and 35.3% for men, p < 0.0001). No association was identified between the investigated polymorphisms and GTS. This study confirms the occurrence of GTS among tobacco harvesters in Brazil with high prevalence. The investigation suggests the need to take preventive measures to protect tobacco workers against this disease.

Profile of clinical information in medical records of tobacco farmers in Alagoas, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: The study of the profile of medical records of tobacco growers contributes to discussions on the establishment of diagnosis and its causal correlation with work. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the profile of clinical information in medical records of tobacco growers. METHODS: The present was a descriptive field and documentary study, with quantitative approach, of 149medical records of farmers who visited basic health units in rural communities in the municipality of Arapiraca, Alagoas, Brazil, from 2008 to 2013. RESULTS: About 66% of the investigated population was female, with average age 58.6 years old (standard deviation ±16.4). The most significant clinical complaint found in the records was headache (16.71%), followed by low back pain (10.20%), dysuria or other urinary problems (8.90%) and stomachache (8.30%). Medical diagnoses included gastritis (15.1%), depression (7.1%), anxiety (7.1%), myalgia (7.1%) and arthritis/arthralgia (5.3%). Correlation between clinical complaints and work performed by tobacco growers was registered on one single medical record. CONCLUSION: The clinical profile of tobacco growers described in the medical records might be associated with their social and working conditions and related to pesticide and nicotine poisoning. However, the scarcity of information on the environmental and occupational risk context limits the establishment of a causal link. As a function of the relevance of the occupational-clinical conditions of this population of workers, improving medical records is necessary, as the temporal relationship between exposure and outcomes might account for the occurrence of the reported symptoms.

INTRODUÇÃO: O estudo do perfil dos registros clínicos em prontuários de fumicultores favorece a discussão do estabelecimento do diagnóstico e do nexo causal com o trabalho. OBJETIVO: Identificar o perfil dos registros clínicos em prontuários de fumicultores. MÉTODO: Trata-se de um estudo descritivo de campo e documental com abordagem quantitativa dos registros em 149 prontuários de fumicultores que frequentaram Unidades Básicas de Saúde da Família de comunidades rurais do município de Arapiraca, Alagoas, no período de 2008 a 2013. RESULTADOS: Foi identificado que 66% dos usuários são do sexo feminino, com média de idade de 58,6 anos (desvio padrão - DP±16,4). As queixas clínicas mais expressivas registradas nos prontuários estavam relacionadas à cefaleia (16,71%), seguida por dor lombar (10,20%), disúria ou outros problemas urinários (8,90%) e epigastralgia (8,30%). Quanto aos diagnósticos médicos, destacaram-se gastrite/epigastralgia (15,1%), depressão (7,1%), ansiedade (7,1%), mialgia (7,1%) e artrite/artralgia (5,3%). A correlação das queixas clínicas como trabalho desenvolvido pelos fumicultores foi registrada em apenas um prontuário. CONCLUSÃO: O perfil clínico dos fumicultores apresentado nos prontuários poderia estar associado às condições sociais e de trabalho e inter-relacionado com a intoxicação por agrotóxicos e nicotina. Porém, a escassez de registros contextualizando o ambiente e os riscos ocupacionais torna limitante o nexo causal. Pela relevância do quadro clínico-ocupacional desses trabalhadores, faz-se necessária a melhoria dos registros, o que poderia justificar os sintomas apresentados levando em consideração as relações temporais entre a exposição e o desfecho.

Meta-Analysis of the Relationship between TNF-α (-308G/A) and IL-10 (-819C/T) Gene Polymorphisms and Susceptibility to Dengue.

OBJECTIVE: This study determined whether tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and Interleukin-10 (IL-10) polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to dengue. METHODS: a systematic review with meta-analysis was conducted of the associations between the TNF-α (-308G/A) and IL-10 (-819C/T) polymorphisms and dengue. RESULTS: A total of eight case-controls studies involving 384 individuals with symptomatic dengue, 571 individuals with dengue hemorrhagic fever, and 995 healthy controls were considered in the meta-analysis. There was no significant association between TNF-α (-308G/A) and IL-10 (-819C/T) polymorphism and dengue in overall population. However, stratifying meta-analysis by groups, the meta-analysis revealed association between the TNF-α -308 G/G (OR: 1.62, CI: 1.02-2.57, p = 0.04) genotype and allele G (OR: 1.62, CI: 1.04-2.55, p = 0.03) that confers susceptibility to symptomatic dengue, while the TNF-α -308 G/A genotype (OR: 0.69, CI = 0.39-0.99, p = 0.04) and allele A (OR: 0.64, CI: 0.41-1.00, p = 0.05) confers protection to symptomatic dengue. No difference was observed for the TNF-α (-308) and IL-10 (-819C/T) polymorphisms in the comparisons of hemorrhagic dengue versus control and hemorrhagic dengue versus symptomatic dengue. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis showed that TNF-α (-308) polymorphism is associated with dengue symptomatic susceptibility.