CASPASE-8 gene polymorphisms (rs13416436 and rs2037815) are not associated with preeclampsia development in Brazilian women.

BACKGROUND: Preeclampsia is responsible for considerable mortality and morbidity of mother and sibling. The etiology of preeclampsia is still unknown. Family studies indicate the involvement of genes located on chromosome 2 in preeclampsia development. Considering the importance of apoptosis and chromosome 2, one promising candidate for the study of the genetic cause of this syndrome is the CASPASE-8 gene, which was chosen as the subject of this study. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the frequencies of the genotypes for CASP8 gene polymorphisms (rs13416436 and rs2037815) and to associate these with preeclampsia development in Brazilian women. METHODS: Women with and without preeclampsia were investigated. Accordingly, peripheral blood was collected and DNA extracted, followed by genotyping using Real-time PCR with hydrolysis probe (Taqman® Life Technologies). RESULTS: The results showed no association between genotypes and preeclampsia development for both polymorphisms studied (χ2 = 1.03; p = 0.59, for rs13416436 and χ2 = 1.06; p = 0.58 for rs2037815). CONCLUSIONS: It seems that CASP8 gene polymorphisms (rs13416436 and rs2037815) are not important candidates for the development of preeclampsia. Other genes related to the apoptosis process or other polymorphisms in this gene should be studied in order to understand better the etiology of preeclampsia.

Polymorphism in the lymphotoxin-alpha gene, position +252 (rs909253), is not associated with preeclampsia development in Brazilian women.

PURPOSE: To investigate the frequencies of polymorphic allele and genotypes for the LT-α gene, position +252 (rs909253), in Brazilian women with preeclampsia. METHODS: This is a case-control study, in which 30 women with preeclampsia, classified according to the criteria of the National High Blood Pressure Education Program, and 115 women in the control group, with at least two healthy pregnancies, were selected. Peripheral blood was collected, and DNA was extracted, followed by genotyping, using specific primers and restriction analysis. The genotypes obtained were AA, AG and GG. Statistical analysis was performed using the χ2 association test. The Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium was tested using the Haploview Program. RESULTS: The results showed no association between genotypes and preeclampsia development (χ2=2.0; p=0.4). When the AG and GG genotypes were grouped according to allele G presence or absence (genotype AA), the data showed that the presence of allele G was not significantly different between cases (women with preeclampsia) and controls (χ2=0.0; p=1.0). The LT-α gene polymorphism, position +252 (rs909253), seems not to be an important candidate for the development of preeclampsia. Other inflammatory genes should be researched, and studies involving gene-environment interactions should be performed, in order to reach a better understanding of the etiology of the preeclampsia.

[Characterization and functional capacity in women with breast cancer, gynaecological cancer and gestational trophoblastic disease]. / Caracterização e capacidade funcional de mulheres com câncer ginecológico, câncer mamário e doença trofoblástica gestacional.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the social, demographic and clinical profile, and functional capacity of women diagnosed with gynecological cancer, breast cancer and gestational trophoblastic disease during chemotherapy. METHOD: Longitudinal retrospective study that evaluated the records of women treated in hospital clinics from January 2000 to December 2012. RESULTS: They evaluated the records of 438 women. The analysis showed that were not able to perform their daily activities, limited to the activities of self-care. Older patients had greater functional impairment during therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The sample was women 41 to 50 years, diagnosed with breast cancer (50.9%) and made use of anthracycline based protocols (47%); the scores of the functional capacity of the sample fell from 78.22 to 73.57. It is evident that nursing care should focus on the control of signs and symptoms that impact the functional capacity of women under chemotherapy.

[Protective role of the G allele of the polymorphism in the Interleukin 10 gene (-1082G/A) against the development of preeclampsia]. / Papel protetor do alelo G do polimorfismo no gene Interleucina 10 (-1082G/A) contra o desenvolvimento de pré-eclâmpsia.

PURPOSE: To identify the frequency of polymorphism in the IL-10 gene, rs1800896 (-1082 A/G), in women with preeclampsia (PE) and in women in a control group and to associate the presence of this polymorphism with protection against the development of PE. METHODS: This was a case-control study conducted on 54 women with PE, classified according to the criteria of the National High Blood Pressure Education Program, and on 172 control women with at least two healthy pregnancies. The proposed polymorphism was studied by the technique of real time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), with hydrolysis probes. Statistical analysis was performed using the χ2 test. Odds ratio and confidence interval of 95% were used to measure the strength of association between the studied polymorphism and the development of PE. RESULTS: Statistically increased frequency of the AG genotype was observed among control women (85 versus 15% in women with PE). The G allele was significantly more frequent among control women than PE women (χ2 test, p = 0.01). The odds ratio for carriers of the G allele was 2.13, indicating a lower risk of developing PE compared to non-carriers. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, an association is suggested to occur between the presence of the G allele of the polymorphism in the IL-10 rs1800896 (-1082 A/G) gene and protection against the development of PE. More studies investigating the contribution of these variations and the mechanisms by which they affect the risk of developing PE still need to be undertaken.

[Extension activities aimed at the prevention and treatment of gynecological and breast cancer: an experience report]. / Ações extensionistas voltadas para a prevenção e o tratamento do câncer ginecológico e de mama: relato de experiência.

The objective of this study was to describe the experience of educational and healthcare activities undertaken in a community regarding gynecological and breast cancer, in women with gynecological or breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy in the postoperative period, and also with their families or caregivers as part of an extension project. Activities were organized in two ways: as prevention strategies, developed with women in basic health units, high schools and in public squares; and as health care activities carried out in wards of a hospital in Minas Gerais and at home. The range of activities involved about 800 users. The themes discussed were health promotion and risk factors for breast and gynecological cancer. The nursing care focused on the postoperative period and chemotherapy treatment, extending to home and families or caregivers. In conclusion, this type of activity promotes comprehensive care and facilitates academic learning.

Evaluation of the quality of life of gynecological cancer patients submitted to antineoplastic chemotherapy.

This study aimed to evaluate the quality of life of female gynecological cancer patients submitted to antineoplastic chemotherapy Between August 2007 and April 2009, 50 patients who were undergoing chemotherapy at an outpatient chemotherapy unit in Uberaba-MG were interviewed, by applying the instrument of evaluation of Quality of Life of the World Health Organization, WHOQOL-BREF. The results showed that the domain most affected was the Physical and the more preserved, the Social, with the mean of the general quality of life above the means obtained in other studies. All domains correlated significantly with the general quality of life. It was evident then that the quality of life of these women is satisfactory, however it is suggested that the domains with lower scores be the targets of more accurate observations during multi-professional interventions in order to provide a better quality of life during the chemotherapy treatment.

[Breast self examination: meanings for patients in chemotherapeutic treatment]. / Auto-exame de mama: significado para pacientes em tratamento quimioterápico.

To verify the practice and to identify the meaning of the breast self examination among women with cancer and were submitted to the chemotherapy were objectives of this work. It was a qualitative research, using the speech of the women who are breast cancer carriers in the Hospital das Clínicas of the Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brazil through semi-structured interviews. The collected material was submitted to the analysis of the simplified content proposed by Thiollent. The interviewees owned knowledge on the existence and Importance of breast self examination, however, many did not practice it correctly or ignored the periodicity and technic indicated, there being, this way, need to develop effective interventions to promote the understanding of the feminine population concerning the importance in adopting practices aimed at the precocious diagnosis of the mammary cancer.

[Nursing assistance and home care in antineoplastic chemotherapy]. / Assistência de enfermagem e acompanhamento domiciliar em quimioterapia antineoplásica.

This paper is the result of our experience in clinical oncology in which we verified the lack of systematization in the nursing assistance offered to oncological patients. Thus, the objectives of this study are to analyze the problems of patients undergoing antineoplasic chemotherapy; identify the need for home nursing care; implement a systematic home assistance in order to continue the post-chemotherapy care and analyze the proposal of a systematic assistance. It was concluded that a specialized, systematic, whole, continuous and holistic assistance, extended to the patients' homes, minimizes complications associated to the side effects of antineoplasic chemotherapy.