Risk-reducing surgeries for breast cancer in Brazilian patients undergoing multigene germline panel: impact of results on decision making.

PURPOSE: To assess the behavior change of high-risk breast cancer patients regarding the intention to undergo risk-reducing mastectomies (RRM) before and after genetic testing results and to identify the main influencing factors in decision-making. METHODS: Prospective cohort study conducted between November 2021 and October 2022 with women under follow-up at the high-risk outpatient clinic of the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP). Patients were referred for genetic testing, followed by counseling according to the test result. RESULTS: A total of 373 women were included. In the pre-genetic testing analysis, 54.1% of patients intended to undergo RRMs. After testing, 42.2% opted for the procedure. Behavior change occurred in 26.2%, mainly from "yes" to "no/don't know" (72,6%) (p < 0.001). The genetic test result was positive (LPV or PV) in 29.7% of patients. Among the 90 patients with positive results, 62 (68.9%) agreed to RRM, while 22 (24.4%) remained unwilling to accept RRM, regardless of the positive test. Significant influencing factors for behavior change pre- and post-genetic testing (in favor of surgery) in multivariate analysis were: positive genetic test result (OR 2.94, p < 0.001), personal cancer history (OR 2.7, p = 0.008), and ages between 40 and 49 years (OR 2.07, p = 0.008) and ≥ 50 years (OR 3.47, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In a Brazilian population at high-risk for breast cancer and users of the public health system, it was observed that most desired RRM, however, when genetic testing and counseling were performed, behavior change was observed, especially when the result was positive.

The candidate vaccine strain Brucella ovis ∆abcBA is protective against Brucella melitensis infection in mice.

Brucellosis is a major zoonotic disease, and Brucella melitensis is the species most often associated with human infection. Vaccination is the most efficient tool for controlling animal brucellosis, with a consequent decrease of incidence of human infections. Commercially available live attenuated vaccines provide some degree of protection, but retain residual pathogenicity to human and animals. In this study, Brucella ovis ∆abcBA (Bo∆abcBA), a live attenuated candidate vaccine strain, was tested in two formulations (encapsulated with alginate and alginate plus vitelline protein B [VpB]) to immunize mice against experimental challenge with B. melitensis strain 16M. One week after infection, livers and spleens of immunized mice had reduced numbers of the challenge strain B. melitensis 16M when compared with those of nonimmunized mice, with a reduction of approximately 1-log10 of B. melitensis 16M count in the spleens from immunized mice. Moreover, splenocytes stimulated with B. melitensis antigens in vitro secreted IFN-γ when mice had been immunized with Bo∆abcBA encapsulated with alginate plus VpB, but not with alginate alone. Body and liver weights were similar among groups, although spleens from mice immunized with Bo∆abcBA encapsulated with alginate were larger than those immunized with Bo∆abcBA encapsulated with alginate plus VpB or nonimmunized mice. This study demonstrated that two vaccine formulations containing Bo∆abcBA protected mice against experimental challenge with B. melitensis.

Parámetros de frescura de moluscos / Freshness parameters of mollusks

Los moluscos son muy apreciados como alimento para el hombre y en Venezuela se aprovechan comercialmente almejas (Asaphis deflorata), ostras (Pinctada imbricata y Cassostrea rhizophore), pepitonas (Arca zebra), pulpos (Optopus vulgaris), calamares (Loligo plei), vieiras (Amusium papyraceum), mejillones (Perna perna y P. viridis). Proceden de capturas artesanales e inductriales. Pepitonas, pulpos, calmares y vieiras son los de mayor interés comercial, ya que son materia prima para las industrias conserveras y congeladoras. También suelen ser utilizados artesanalmente para la elaboración de marinados. La importancia de estos recursos demandaron la revisión de los parámetros de frescura y nutricionales para profundizar en su conocimiento y ofrecer herramientas como tablas de evaluación sensorial para su inspección en fábricas, establecimientos de ventas y en laboratorio de investigación. Los resultados demuestran que los valores de proteínas se mantuvieron en un rango de 10,29 a 16,62 por ciento para guacuco y calamar respectivamente. Los parámetros de frescura establecidos pueden ser utilizados y se convierten en el perfil físico y químico que estos organismos deberán presentar como materia prima para proceso

Evaluación de fibrosis en la cicatriz uterina postcesárea / Evaluation of fibrosis in cesarean section uterine scar

El Colegio Americano de Obstetras y Ginecólogos recomienda permitir el parto por vía vaginal en pacientes con 1 cicatriz de cesárea previas por el riesgo de ruptura uterina. Efectuamos medición de fibrosis en una muestra de cicatriz uterina y encontramos que el porcentaje más alto de fibrosis correspondió al grupo con 1 cesárea previa (35.7%, p<0.005). Concluimos entonces que la cicatriz uterina es de características similares después de 1, 2 o más cesáreas previas y el riesgo de ruptura uterina sería similar