Establishment and conventional cytogenetic characterization of three gastric cancer cell lines.

Gastric cancer is the fourth most frequent type of cancer and the second most frequent cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Only a modest number of gastric carcinoma cell lines have been isolated thus far. Here we describe the establishment and cytogenetic characterization of three new gastric cancer cell lines obtained from primary gastric adenocarcinoma (ACP02 and ACP03) and cancerous ascitic fluid (AGP01) of individuals from northern Brazil. ACP02, ACP03, and AGP01 cell lines are presently in the 60th passage. The cell lines grew in a disorganized single layer with some agglomerations and heterogeneous divisions (bipolar and multipolar). All cell lines exhibited a composite karyotype with several clonal chromosome alterations. Trisomy 8 was the most frequent alteration. Chromosome 8 aneusomy was confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization. All cell lines also exhibited trisomy 7 and deletion of chromosome arm 17p. These results suggest that, although frequent chromosome alterations are commonly observed due to culture process, the ACP02, ACP03, and AGP01 cell lines and primary gastric cancer from individuals of northern Brazil share genetic alterations, supporting use of these cell lines as a model of gastric carcinogenesis in this population.

Methylmercury genotoxicity: a novel effect in human cell lines of the central nervous system.

Methylmercury is an important source of environmental contamination and the central nervous system (CNS) is one of the main target organs. Methylmercury genotoxicity was already demonstrated in peripherical tissues but was never detected in the brain. Thus, the objective of this work was to verify its genotoxic effect using brain cell lines. Glioblastoma (U373) and neuroblastoma (B103) human cell lines were exposed to methylmercury (0-10 microM). By measuring cellular viability, concentrations inducing <20% of cellular death (P<0.05) were selected: 1 and 0.1 microM. To detect micronuclei, 200,000 cells were treated with methylmercury for 24 h, and then incubated with cytochalasin B (2 microg/ml) for 72 h (U373) or 48 h (B103). The binucleation index, frequency of micronucleated cells, micronucleation index, metaphasic index and index of nucleoplasmic bridges were determined. Statistical analysis showed indices and percentages significantly higher (P<0.05) in methylmercury-treated cells. Each cell line was shown to be differently sensitive to each biomarker of genotoxic damage, which seems to indicate the existence of different mechanisms of toxicity. This work demonstrates, for the first time, MeHg ability to provoke genotoxicity in cells of brain origin with relatively low levels of exposure.

Ciclosporina, un tratamiento para pacientes de lepra con neuritis crónica que se asocia con un control del dolor y la reducción de anticuerpos frente al factor de crecimeitno neural / No disponible

Objetivos: La neuritis crónica (NC) es un grave problema en la lepra y resulta difícil de controlar en pacientes que no responden a la prednisona. En este estudio se evalúa (i) la eficacia de la ciclosporina A (CyA) en el control de pacientes NC y (ii) se analiza la presencia de anticuerpos anti-NGF en el suero de pacientes de lepra y su comportamiento durante el tratamiento con CyA. Método: El esquema del estudio es abierto, prospectivo y no-comparativo. Se estudiaron sesenta y siete pacientes de lepra en tres instituciones diferentes de Pará, Brasil, entre enero 2001 a enero 2004. De entre ellos, 47 no presentaron NC y 20 eran pacientes con NC y en tratamiento con al menos 40 mg/día de prednisona para controlar el dolor y afectación neural. A los pacientes se les administró 12 meses de tratamiento en disminución progresiva, empezando con 5 mg/día. La medición fue la afectación sensorial, mediante examen con el sistema del monofilamento Semmes-Weinstein (SWME), fuerza muscular y dolor espontáneo o relacionado con la palpación. Resultados: Se detectaron anticuerpos frente al NGF en el suero de pacientes de lepra, que posiblemente pueda explicar la depleción de NGF en lepra que contribuye a la neuritis, inflamación y pérdida de nociceptión cutánea. Los niveles humorales de estos anticuerpos en pacientes CN eran algo menores que en los pacientes sin CN. Sin embargo, los niveles anti-NGF en pacientes NC tratados con CyA disminuyeron hasta niveles similares a los de los individuos normales. También experimentaban mejoría la afectación sensitiva, fuerza muscular y dolor. Conclusiones: Estos datos parecen indicar que los anticuerpos anti-NGF están presentes en el suero de pacientes de lepra y pueden influenciar el resultado final de la neuritis y que CyA puede ser útil para controlar la afectación neural y el dolor en los pacientes de lepra

Objetives: Chronic neuritis (CN) is still a major problem in leprosy and is difficult to manage in patients who do not respond well to prednisone. In this study we (i) evaluate the efficacy of cyclosporine A (CyA) in controlling CN patients, and (ii) analyse the presence of anti-NGF antibodies in the sera of leprosy patients, and their behavior during CyA treatment. Design: This was an open, prospective, non-comparative study. Sixty –seven leprosy patients in three different institutions in Pará, Brazil were studied form January, 2001 to January, 2004. Of these, 47 had no CN and 20 were leprosy patients suffering from CN and taking at least 40mg/dya prednisone to control nerve impairment and pain. Patients received 12 months reducing course CyA starting at 5 mg/kg per day. The outcome measure was sensory impairment, assessed using Semmes-Weinstein monofilament examination (SWME), muscular force and spontaneous or palpation-related pain. Results: Antibodies against NGF were detected in the sera of leprosy patients, which may explain the depletion of NGF in leprosy contributing to neuritis, inflammation and loss of cutaneous nociception. The levels of these antibodies in CN patients were slightly lower than in patients with no CN. However, anti-NGF titres in CN patients treated with CyA were lowered to levels similar to those in the normal subjects. There was also improvement in sensory impairment, muscular force and pain. Conclusions: These data suggest that anti-NGF antibodies are present in the sera of leprosy patients and may influence the outcome of neuritis, and that CyA might be a useful drug in controlling nerve impairment and pain in leprosy patients

Ciclosporina, un tratamiento para pacientes de lepra con neuritis crónica que se asocia con un control del dolor y la reducción de anticuerpos frente al factor de crecimeitno neural / No disponible

Objetivos: La neuritis crónica (NC) es un grave problema en la lepra y resulta difícil de controlar en pacientes que no responden a la prednisona. En este estudio se evalúa (i) la eficacia de la ciclosporina A (CyA) en el control de pacientes NC y (ii) se analiza la presencia de anticuerpos anti-NGF en el suero de pacientes de lepra y su comportamiento durante el tratamiento con CyA. Método: El esquema del estudio es abierto, prospectivo y no-comparativo. Se estudiaron sesenta y siete pacientes de lepra en tres instituciones diferentes de Pará, Brasil, entre enero 2001 a enero 2004. De entre ellos, 47 no presentaron NC y 20 eran pacientes con NC y en tratamiento con al menos 40 mg/día de prednisona para controlar el dolor y afectación neural. A los pacientes se les administró 12 meses de tratamiento en disminución progresiva, empezando con 5 mg/día. La medición fue la afectación sensorial, mediante examen con el sistema del monofilamento Semmes-Weinstein (SWME), fuerza muscular y dolor espontáneo o relacionado con la palpación. Resultados: Se detectaron anticuerpos frente al NGF en el suero de pacientes de lepra, que posiblemente pueda explicar la depleción de NGF en lepra que contribuye a la neuritis, inflamación y pérdida de nociceptión cutánea. Los niveles humorales de estos anticuerpos en pacientes CN eran algo menores que en los pacientes sin CN. Sin embargo, los niveles anti-NGF en pacientes NC tratados con CyA disminuyeron hasta niveles similares a los de los individuos normales. También experimentaban mejoría la afectación sensitiva, fuerza muscular y dolor. Conclusiones: Estos datos parecen indicar que los anticuerpos anti-NGF están presentes en el suero de pacientes de lepra y pueden influenciar el resultado final de la neuritis y que CyA puede ser útil para controlar la afectación neural y el dolor en los pacientes de lepra (AU)

Objetives: Chronic neuritis (CN) is still a major problem in leprosy and is difficult to manage in patients who do not respond well to prednisone. In this study we (i) evaluate the efficacy of cyclosporine A (CyA) in controlling CN patients, and (ii) analyse the presence of anti-NGF antibodies in the sera of leprosy patients, and their behavior during CyA treatment. Design: This was an open, prospective, non-comparative study. Sixty –seven leprosy patients in three different institutions in Pará, Brazil were studied form January, 2001 to January, 2004. Of these, 47 had no CN and 20 were leprosy patients suffering from CN and taking at least 40mg/dya prednisone to control nerve impairment and pain. Patients received 12 months reducing course CyA starting at 5 mg/kg per day. The outcome measure was sensory impairment, assessed using Semmes-Weinstein monofilament examination (SWME), muscular force and spontaneous or palpation-related pain. Results: Antibodies against NGF were detected in the sera of leprosy patients, which may explain the depletion of NGF in leprosy contributing to neuritis, inflammation and loss of cutaneous nociception. The levels of these antibodies in CN patients were slightly lower than in patients with no CN. However, anti-NGF titres in CN patients treated with CyA were lowered to levels similar to those in the normal subjects. There was also improvement in sensory impairment, muscular force and pain. Conclusions: These data suggest that anti-NGF antibodies are present in the sera of leprosy patients and may influence the outcome of neuritis, and that CyA might be a useful drug in controlling nerve impairment and pain in leprosy patients (AU)