Ultrasound as a Method for Early Diagnosis of Breast Pathology.

INTRODUCTION: Ultrasound is a non-invasive, low-cost technique that does not use ionising radiation and provides a "real-time" image, and for these reasons, this method is ideal in several situations. PURPOSE: To demonstrate breast ultrasound evaluation as a first-line diagnostic method and to evaluate the variation of breast characteristics with age. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 105 women with a mean age of 30 years participated and were divided into three age groups: 18-39, 40-59, and 60-79 years, excluding participants subject to mastectomy. After completing the informed consent, all participants answered personal and sociodemographic questions, such as personal and family history, menstrual cycle, pregnancy, ultrasound, and mammography, among others. They were then submitted to a bilateral breast ultrasound examination. Subsequently, all the images and their data were analysed, and a technical report of the examination was given to all the participants. RESULTS: A total of 105 women with a mean age of 30 years participated, 58 of whom underwent the examination for the first time. In 31, changes (of which only 7 were known) were diagnosed. It was verified that, according to age group, the density of the breast stroma varied; older women have less breast density. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound is a good method for breast evaluation and can be considered important for the early evaluation of breast pathology and follow-up of the pathology.

Syndecan-4 is a maestro of gastric cancer cell invasion and communication that underscores poor survival.

Gastric cancer is a dominating cause of cancer-associated mortality with limited therapeutic options. Here, we show that syndecan-4 (SDC4), a transmembrane proteoglycan, is highly expressed in intestinal subtype gastric tumors and that this signature associates with patient poor survival. Further, we mechanistically demonstrate that SDC4 is a master regulator of gastric cancer cell motility and invasion. We also find that SDC4 decorated with heparan sulfate is efficiently sorted in extracellular vesicles (EVs). Interestingly, SDC4 in EVs regulates gastric cancer cell-derived EV organ distribution, uptake, and functional effects in recipient cells. Specifically, we show that SDC4 knockout disrupts the tropism of EVs for the common gastric cancer metastatic sites. Our findings set the basis for the molecular implications of SDC4 expression in gastric cancer cells and provide broader perspectives on the development of therapeutic strategies targeting the glycan-EV axis to limit tumor progression.

Antioxidant Activities of Commiphora leptophloeos (Mart.) J. B. Gillett) (Burseraceae) Leaf Extracts Using In Vitro and In Vivo Assays.

Commiphora leptophloeos is widely used in folk medicine without any scientific basis. Considering this, the aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical profile and the antioxidant activity of C. leptophloeos leaf extracts using in vitro and in vivo assays. Six extracts were obtained from fresh leaves using a serial extraction (nonpolar to polar solvents). These extracts were first evaluated with the presence of phytochemical compounds using the methods thin layer chromatography (TLC), ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC-DAD), and high performance liquid chromatography, both with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD). Based on the compounds identified, it was used some bioinformatics tools in order to identify possible pathway and gene targets. After that, the antioxidant capacity from these extracts was analysed by in vitro assays and in vivo assays using Caenorhabditis elegans model. Phytochemical analyses showed the presence of polyphenols, such as rutin, vitexin, and quercetin diglycosides in all extracts, especially in ethanol extract (EE) and methanol extract (EM). Bioinformatics analysis showed these polyphenols linked to antioxidant pathways. Furthermore, EE and EM displayed a high antioxidant capacity in DPPH and superoxide radical scavenging assays. They also had no effect on cell viability for 3T3 nontumour cell. However, for B16-F10 tumour cell lines, these extracts had toxicity effect. In vivo assays using C. elegans N2 showed that EE was not toxic, and it did not affect its viability nor its development. Besides, EE increased worm survival under oxidative stress and reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels by 50%. Thus, C. leptophloeos EE displayed an important in vitro and in vivo antioxidant capacity. The EE extract has polyphenols, suggesting that these compounds may be responsible for a myriad of biological activities having this potential to be used in various biotechnological applications.

Association between breakfast omission and abdominal adiposity in low-income adolescents / Associação entre a omissão do desjejum e a adiposidade abdominal em adolescentes de baixa renda

ABSTRACT Objective To assess the association between breakfast omission, overweight/obesity, abdominal adiposity, and unhealthy lifestyle of low-income adolescents. Methods A cross-sectional population study involving 571 public school students aged between 15 and 19 years old. The habit of having breakfast was assessed using a form, checking the weekly frequency of a given meal and considered as breakfast omission when these adolescents did not have breakfast for at least 5 days in the past week. Sociodemographic and lifestyle variables (sedentarism, physical activity level, and sleep duration) were also assessed. Overweight/obesity was defined as a body mass index above a Z-score of +1, and the presence of abdominal adiposity was determined by a waist circumference/height ratio greater than 0.5. The association between breakfast omission and lifestyle variables was assessed using the chi-square test and a multivariate logistic regression of the anthropometric indicators. Results The omission of breakfast was found in 31% of the adolescents and was associated with physical inactivity (p<0.001). Regarding anthropometric indicators, breakfast omission was an independent factor for determining abdominal adiposity, with a 1.8 times greater chance of having this condition among those who omitted breakfast (p=0.037). Conclusions Omitting breakfast was frequent among the students assessed, and was associated with abdominal adiposity, a cardiometabolic risk factor. Investigation and early intervention are fundamental to change this behavior.

RESUMO Objetivo O estudo objetivou avaliar a associação entre omissão do desjejum, sobrepeso/obesidade, adiposidade abdominal e estilo de vida não saudável em adolescentes de baixa renda. Methods Este foi um estudo populacional com delineamento transversal, envolvendo 571 adolescentes de escolas públicas, entre 15 e 19 anos. O hábito do desjejum foi avaliado através de formulário que verificou a frequência semanal da realização dessa refeição, sendo considerado omissão do desjejum quando os adolescentes não o realizaram por pelo menos cinco dias na última semana. Variáveis sociodemográficas e de estilo de vida (sedentarismo, nível de atividade física e horas de sono) também foram analisadas. A classificação em sobrepeso/obesidade contemplou o índice de massa corporal acima do +1 escore-z, e definiu-se adiposidade abdominal quando a relação circunferência abdominal/estatura foi maior que 0,5. A associação entre a omissão do desjejum e as variáveis de estilo de vida foi avaliada através do teste do qui-quadrado e com os indicadores antropométricos por regressão logística multivariada Results O hábito de omitir o desjejum esteve presente em 31% dos adolescentes e apresentou associação com a inatividade física (p<0,001). Em relação aos indicadores antropométricos, a omissão do desjejum foi um fator independente para determinação da adiposidade abdominal, verificando-se uma chance 1,8 vezes maior de presença dessa condição entre os que omitiam o desjejum (p=0,037). Conclusions A omissão do desjejum foi frequente entre os estudantes avaliados e esteve associada à adiposidade abdominal, um fator de risco cardiometabólico, sendo fundamental a investigação e a intervenção precoce para a mudança desse comportamento.

Myrciaria tenella (DC.) O. Berg (Myrtaceae) Leaves as a Source of Antioxidant Compounds.

Myrciaria species are widely studied to identify their chemical composition and evaluate their biological activity. Since evidence supporting the potential antioxidant and antiproliferative activity of Myrciaria tenella is lacking, the aim of this work was to evaluate these activities in six different leaf extracts: hexane (CHE), chloroform (CCE), ethanolic (CEE), methanolic (CME), aqueous final (CFAE), and only aqueous (CAE). The presence of phenolic compounds, tannin, saponin, and ursolic acid was determined by thin layer chromatography (TLC). CEE, CME, and CFAE showed in vitro antioxidant activity at the initiation, propagation, and termination stages of oxidative damage. Moreover, no toxicity was observed in the 3T3 non-cancerous cell line. On the other hand, all extracts promoted cell death in the tumor cell lines human cervical adenocarcinoma cell line (HeLa) and human stomach gastric adenocarcinoma cell line (AGS). Based on these results, the effect of CEE on the AGS cell line was analyzed using flow cytometry, and necrosis and late apoptosis were observed. Finally, the Caenorhabditis elegans model showed that CEE was able to reduce the basal reactive oxygen species (ROS) level. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) analysis showed rutin as the major compound in CEE. Therefore, Myrciaria tenella fresh leaves may be potential sources of molecules possessing antioxidant and antiproliferative activities.

Ação anti-helmíntica do extrato hidroalcóolico da raiz da Tarenaya spinosa (Jacq.) Raf. no controle de Haemonchus contortus em ovinos / Anthelmintic action of the hydroalcoholic extract of the root of Tarenaya spinosa (Jacq.) Raf. for Haemonchus contortus control in sheep

Para investigar o potencial anti-helmíntico do extrato hidroalcóolico da raiz de Tarenaya spinosa, como alternativa no controle do nematóide gastrintestinal Haemonchus contortus de ovinos, foram realizados testes in vitro com Artemia salina, em seguida, sobre coproculturas contendo ovos do helminto, avaliando a ação ovicida e larvicida do extrato. Após os testes preliminares, foi realizado o teste in vivo em 20 ovinos machos os quais foram divididos em quatro tratamentos Grupo 1: ivermectina 1%; Grupo 2: sem tratamento; Grupo 3: extrato hidroalcóolico de T. spinosa 150μg/mL; Grupo 4: extrato hidroalcóolico de T. spinosa 300μg/mL, amostras de fezes e de sangue foram coletadas para exames parasitológicos e hematológicos. No teste in vitro, a toxicidade frente a A. salina foi de 150μg/mL, obteve-se eficiência de 81,53% sobre ovos e larvas do H. contortus. No teste in vivo, a avaliação da eficácia dos tratamentos foi realizada pelo teste de redução na contagem de ovos fecais (RCOF), os grupos tratados com Ivermectina e T. spinosa a 150μg/mL e 300μg/mL obtiveram os melhores resultados, reduzindo o OPG após 28 dias em 40,6, 41 e 40,2% respectivamente, revelando assim seu potencial fitoterápico para fins de controle de nematódeos gastrintestinais em ovinos.

To investigate the anthelmintic potential of hydroalcoholic extract of the root of Tarenaya spinosa, as an alternative in the control of gastrointestinal nematode Haemonchus contortus in sheep, in vitro tests were performed with Artemia salina then on stool cultures containing helminth eggs, assessing ovicidal and larvicidal action of the extract. After preliminary tests, the in vivo test was performed in 20 male sheep were divided into four treatments: Group 1 Ivermectin 1 %, Group 2: untreated; Group 3: hydroalcoholic extract of T. spinosa 150μg/mL; Group 4: hydroalcoholic extract T. spinosa 300μg/mL, stool samples and blood were collected for parasitological and haematological tests. In in vitro tests, toxicity against A. salina was 150μg/mL, there was obtained 81.53% efficiency against eggs and larvae of H. contortus. In vivo test, evaluating the effectiveness of treatments was performed by reduction test in faecal egg count (RCOF), the groups treated with Ivermectin and T. spinosa the 150μg/mL and 300μg/mL obtained the best results, reducing OPG after 28 days in 40.6, 41 and 42.6% respectively, thus revealing its herbal potential for control of gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep.

Prevalence and risk factors associated with goat gastrointestinal helminthiasis in the Sertão region of Paraíba State, Brazil.

Gastrointestinal helminthiasis represents an obstacle to goat raising, causing severe damage to herds such as growth retardation, weight loss, and even death. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated to goat gastrointestinal helminthiasis in the Sertão region of Paraíba State, Brazil. A total of 256 goats from 54 farms were systematically sampled. Blood and fecal samples were collected from each animal for egg per gram (EPG), larval culture, and packed cell volume (PCV) analyses. We found that 79.3% of the goats investigated were parasitized with gastrointestinal helminths. Significant correlation (p = 0.004) was observed between the EPG and PCV of the animals studied, and it was observed that the EPG increases as the PCV decreases. In the larval culture, the most prevalent helminth was Haemonchus sp. (83.2%). Age and sex were significant variables (p ≤ 0.20) for the development of gastrointestinal helminths: 86.8% of animals over 36 months of age and 81.7% of females were infected. The variable type of animal exploitation was also significant, with 90.3% (p ≤ 0.20) of the animals presenting double suitability (milk and meat). The Sertão region of Paraíba State presents high prevalence of gastrointestinal helminthiasis in goats, and age and type of animal exploitation are the most relevant risk factors to the development of these parasites.

O nosso círculo: fragmentos de uma escuta psicanalítica

O artigo apresenta o resultado de um ano de trabalho em um seminário clínico de formação de psicanalistas, do curso Formação em Psicanálise do Instituto Sedes Sapientiae. Nossa experiência, produções artísticas forma instrumentos para a construção da escuta do analista em formação. Três escutas de um caso clínico discutido pelo grupo evocaram diferentes ilustrações artísticas da literatura, da escultura e da música, respectivamente. Tais imagem, emergentes do singular e também do grupo, compuseram o processo de escuta uma experiência sensorial e associativa fundamental na formação de um escuta psicanalítica sensível(AU)

The article presentes the results of a full year´work in a clinical seminar for psychoanalysts´s traing, from the course “Formação em Psicanálise” in “Instituto Sedes Sapientae”. In this experience, artistic productions were instruments in the construction of the psychoanalyst listening. Theree distinct listenings of a clinical case discussed by the group evoked diferente artistic illustrations from literature, sculpture and music, respectively. The resulting images, which emerged from individuals and also from the group, made up the processo f listening and develop a narrative that transcendes the original case, setting up a sensory and associoative experience that is crucial to he constituition of a sensitive psychoanalytic listening

A terceira margem do rio: um diálogo entre poesia (sonho) e prosa (vigília)

O diálogo entre poesia (sonho) e prosa (vigília) nas obras homônimas A terceira margem do rio, permitiu evidenciar os mecanismos deslocamento, condensação e figurabilidade entre as palavras de Caetano Veloso e de João Guimarães Rosa. Nesse sentido, a ideia de uma terceira margem do rio que encerra o indizível, presente em ambas as obras, permite pensar a palavra como representação de coisa, a palavra em sua materialidade que flexibiliza a relação entre significante e significado (água da palavra). Mas é metaforicamente na relação com o pai que se encerram as raízes de toda cadeia associativa. São os desejos inconsciente, submersos no rio, que reagem os operadores e que criam os meandros da rede de associações ora convergentes e ora contraditórias denunciando a presença escondida, disfarçada da(i)lógica do desejo inconsciente(AU)

The dialogue between poetry (dream) and prose (vigil), in the homophonous Works A terceira margem do rio, shows the mechanisms of displicement, consensation and figurability between the words os Caetano Veloso and João Guimarães Rosa. The idea of a third shore of river that contains the unspeakable, found in both woks, allows one to think thing-word the word in is materiality that turns looser the relation between referente and meaning (water of the word). But it is metaphorically in the relation with the father that the roots of the associative chain are found. Unconscious desires, inside the river, conduct operations and create the texture of the web of associations, cometimes converging sometimes conflictiong, denoucing the hidden, disguised presence of the (il)logic the unconscious desire

Envolvimento nos direitos humanos e sistemas de valores / Involvement in human rights and value systems

Com base no modelo da análise quantitativa das representações sociais, o estudo (N = 300) tratou do posicionamento de estudantes universitários em relação aos direitos humanos (DHs) e à ancoragem social desse posicionamento nos sistemas de valores dos estudantes. Os resultados mostram que as representações dos estudantes sobre o envolvimento nos DHs envolvem quatro princípios organizadores: pessoal-abstrato; pessoal-concreto; governamental-abstrato; governamental-concreto. Em relação à ancoragem social dos princípios organizadores do envolvimento nos DHs, observou-se que os valores pós-materialistas se relacionaram positivamente com o envolvimento pessoal-abstrato, enquanto a adesão aos valores religiosos implicou maior envolvimento no princípio pessoal-concreto. Além disso, a adesão aos valores materialistas levou a uma avaliação mais positiva do envolvimento do governo brasileiro nos DHs, ao passo que os valores pós-materialistas contribuíram com uma avaliação mais crítica desse governo. As discussões abordam a centralidade dos valores na formação das representações sociais dos DHs (AU)

Envolvimento nos direitos humanos e sistemas de valores / Involvement in human rights and value systems

Com base no modelo da análise quantitativa das representações sociais, o estudo (N = 300) tratou do posicionamento de estudantes universitários em relação aos Direitos Humanos (DHs) e à ancoragem social desse posicionamento nos sistemas de valores dos estudantes. Os resultados mostram que as representações dos estudantes sobre o envolvimento nos DHs envolvem quatro princípios organizadores: pessoal-abstrato; pessoal-concreto; governamental-abstrato; governamental-concreto. Em relação à ancoragem social dos princípios organizadores do envolvimento nos DHs, observou-se que os valores pós-materialistas se relacionaram positivamente com o envolvimento pessoal-abstrato, enquanto a adesão aos valores religiosos implicou maior envolvimento no princípio pessoal-concreto. Além disso, a adesão aos valores materialistas levou a uma avaliação mais positiva do envolvimento do Governo Brasileiro nos DHs, ao passo que os valores pós-materialistas contribuíram com uma avaliação mais crítica desse governo. As discussões abordam a centralidade dos valores na formação das representações sociais dos DHs.