The effect of taurine and enriched environment on behaviour, memory and hippocampus of diabetic rats.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) has been studied recently as a major cause of cognitive deficits, memory and neurodegenerative damage. Taurine and enriched environment have stood out for presenting neuroprotective and stimulating effects that deserve further study. In this paper, we examined the effects of taurine and enriched environment in the context of diabetes, evaluating effects on behaviour, memory, death and cellular activity. Eighty-eight Wistar rats were divided into 2 groups (E=enriched environment; C=standard housing). Some animals (24/group) underwent induction of diabetes, and within each group, some animals (half of diabetics (D) and half of non-diabetics (ND)/group) were treated for 30days with taurine (T). Untreated animals received saline (S). In total, there were eight subgroups: DTC, DSC, NDTC, NDSC, DTE, DSE, NDTE and NDSE. During the experiment, short-term memory was evaluated. After 30th day of experiment, the animals were euthanized and was made removal of brains used to immunohistochemistry procedures for GFAP and cleaved caspase-3. As a result, we observed that animals treated with taurine showed better performance in behavioural and memory tasks, and the enriched environment had positive effects, especially in non-diabetic animals. Furthermore, taurine and enriched environment seemed to be able to interfere with neuronal apoptosis and loss of glial cells, and in some instances, these two factors seemed to have synergistic effects. From these data, taurine and enriched environment may have important neurostimulant and neuroprotective effects.

Clinical and pathological factors influencing the survival of breast cancer patients with malignant pleural effusion.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to identify the clinical and pathological factors that can influence the prognosis of breast cancer patients with clinical symptoms of malignant pleural effusion. METHODS: This was a clinical cohort study, in which we analyzed the medical charts of patients diagnosed with malignant pleural effusion between 2006 and 2010. By examining the charts, we identified the female patients with a history of breast cancer. For those patients, we collected pathology data related to the primary tumor and cytopathology data related to the pleural metastasis. RESULTS: We evaluated 145 patients, 87 (60%) of whom had tested positive for malignant cells in the pleural fluid. Ductal histology was observed in 119 (82%). The triple-negative breast cancer phenotype was seen in 25 cases (17%). Those patients had the worst prognosis (with a sharp decline in the survival curve), and 20 of the 25 (80%) died during the follow-up period (through June of 2011). The mean survival after the identification of malignant pleural effusion was 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with triple-negative breast cancer who test positive for malignant cells in the pleural fluid, the prognosis is poor and survival is reduced.

Evaluation of the expression of C-kit (CD117) in ependymomas and oligodendrogliomas.

C-kit is a proto-oncogene located on the long arm of chromosome 4. Its product, CD117, is a specific immunohistochemical (IHQ) marker that is associated with response to a potent tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy with STI-571 (Gleevec®) in chronic myelogenous leukemia and GISTs. In our study, we aimed to evaluate the expression of CD117 in glial tumors as this finding may guide therapeutic approaches for these brain tumors. Ependymomas and oligodendrogliomas, in formalin fixed and paraffin embedded blocks were assayed for CD117 immunoreactivity using anti-c-kit (CD117, DAKO). GISTs were used as positive control. We observed immunoreactivity of CD117 protein in 25.5% of tumors in both histological types. In oligodendrogliomas, there was an association between older age at diagnosis and positivity for CD117 (P=0.039). In addition, we observed an association between higher tumor grade (grade III) and positivity for CD117 (P=0.007). No clinical association was observed in ependymomas (P>0.05). This study encourages further investigations, considering that CD117 may be a possible oncogenic factor in some glial tumors. In this case, tumors that express this marker may eventually benefit from a therapy with selective inhibitors of receptor kinases.

Fatores clínicos e anatomopatológicos que influenciam a sobrevida de pacientes com câncer de mama e derrame pleural neoplásico / Clinical and pathological factors influencing the survival of breast cancer patients with malignant pleural effusion

OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar os fatores clínicos e anatomopatológicos que possam influenciar o prognóstico de pacientes com câncer de mama e sintomas clínicos de derrame pleural neoplásico. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de um estudo clínico de coorte, no qual foram analisados os prontuários médicos de pacientes que receberam diagnóstico de derrame pleural neoplásico entre 2006 e 2010. Por meio da análise dos prontuários, identificamos as pacientes com história de câncer de mama. Para essas pacientes, coletamos dados anatomopatológicos relacionados ao tumor primário e dados citopatológicos relacionados à metástase pleural. RESULTADOS: Das 145 pacientes avaliadas, 87 (60%) apresentaram, no exame citológico, resultado positivo para células neoplásicas no líquido pleural; além disso, 119 (82%) apresentaram tipo histológico ductal. O fenótipo triplo-negativo foi observado em 25 pacientes (17%), as quais apresentaram o pior prognóstico, com queda acentuada na curva de sobrevida. Das 25 pacientes, 20 (80%) evoluíram a óbito durante o período de seguimento (até junho de 2011). A sobrevida média após a identificação de derrame pleural neoplásico foi de 6 meses. CONCLUSÕES: Em pacientes com câncer de mama triplo-negativo e exame citológico com resultado positivo para células neoplásicas no líquido pleural, o prognóstico é ruim e a sobrevida é menor.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to identify the clinical and pathological factors that can influence the prognosis of breast cancer patients with clinical symptoms of malignant pleural effusion. METHODS: This was a clinical cohort study, in which we analyzed the medical charts of patients diagnosed with malignant pleural effusion between 2006 and 2010. By examining the charts, we identified the female patients with a history of breast cancer. For those patients, we collected pathology data related to the primary tumor and cytopathology data related to the pleural metastasis. RESULTS: We evaluated 145 patients, 87 (60%) of whom had tested positive for malignant cells in the pleural fluid. Ductal histology was observed in 119 (82%). The triple-negative breast cancer phenotype was seen in 25 cases (17%). Those patients had the worst prognosis (with a sharp decline in the survival curve), and 20 of the 25 (80%) died during the follow-up period (through June of 2011). The mean survival after the identification of malignant pleural effusion was 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with triple-negative breast cancer who test positive for malignant cells in the pleural fluid, the prognosis is poor and survival is reduced.

Associação entre Fibromialgia e Hipotireoidismo / Association between Fibromyalgia and Hypothyroidism

Fibromialgia é uma síndrome de origem desconhecida que acomete frequentemente mulheres. Existemevidências de que a maioria dos casos de fibromialgia associam-se com dificuldades na produção de hormôniostireoideanos, ou no seu aproveitamento. Avaliou-se a associação entre fibromialgia e hipotireoidismo em 28 pacientes do sexo feminino, previamente diagnosticadas como fibromiálgicas, atendidas no consultório de reumatologia do município deIjuí- RS, no período entre agosto de 2008 e novembro de 2008. Foram classificadas como portadoras de hipotireoidismo pacientes que apresentavam níveis de TSH elevados e T4 diminuídos ou normais; a função tireoideana foi considerada normal quando as concentrações séricas estavam dentro dos valores de referência: TSH: 0,3 – 5,0 mUI/mL; T4 livre: 0,7 – 1,8 ng/dL . A análise dos 28 prontuários revelou que 10,71% das pacientes eram, além de fibromiálgicas, portadoras de hipotireoidismo e 89,29% não apresentaram alteração nos hormônios tireoideanos. Conclui-se que houve uma baixa freqüência de hipotireoidismo entre estas pacientes. Dentre os motivos para a baixa frequência do hipotireoidismo, um dosfatores mais relevantes foi o número baixo de prontuários analisados. Além disso, é importante acrescentar-se que avaliar os níveis de hormônios tireoidianos em pacientes portadoras de fibromialgia é de grande relevância clínica e deve ser adotado comoumexame de screening.

Fibromyalgia is a syndrome of unknown origin that often affects women. There is evidence that most cases offibromyalgia are associated with difficulties in the production of thyroid hormones, or their use.We evaluated the association between fibromyalgia and hypothyroidism in 28 female patients previously diagnosed fibromyalgia attending the rheumatology clinic in the city of Ijuí-RS in the period between August 2008 and November 2008.Were classified as suffering from hypothyroid patients with elevated levels of TSH and T4 decreased or normal, thyroid function was considered normal when serum concentrations were within reference values: TSH: 0.3 - 5.0 mIU / mL, T4 free: 0.7 - 1.8 ng / dL. The analysis of28 medical records revealed that 10.71% of the patients were, in addition to fibromyalgia, suffering from hypothyroidism and 89.29% showed no change in thyroid hormones. It is concluded that there was a low incidence of hypothyroidism among these patients. Among the reasons for the low frequency of hypothyroidism, one of the most important factors was the lownumber of records analyzed. Furthermore, it is important to add that measure levels of thyroid hormones in patients with fibromyalgia is of great clinical relevance and should be adopted as a screening examination.