Temporal distribution of tuberculosis in the State of Amazonas, Brazil

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the infectious diseases that contributes most to the morbidity and mortality of millions of people worldwide. Brazil is one of 22 countries that accounts for 80% of the tuberculosis global burden. The highest incidence rates in Brazil occur in the States of Amazonas and Rio de Janeiro. The aim of this study was to describe the temporal distribution of TB in the State of Amazonas. Between 2001 and 2011, 28,198 cases of tuberculosis were reported in Amazonas, distributed among 62 municipalities, with the capital Manaus reporting the highest (68.7%) concentration of cases. Tuberculosis was more prevalent among males (59.3%) aged 15 to 34 years old (45.5%), whose race/color was predominantly pardo (64.7%) and who had pulmonary TB (84.3%). During this period, 81 cases of multidrug-resistant TB were registered, of which the highest concentration was reported from 2008 onward (p = 0.002). The municipalities with the largest numbers of indigenous individuals affected were São Gabriel da Cachoeira (93%), Itamarati (78.1%), and Santa Isabel do Rio Negro (70.1%). The future outlook for this region includes strengthening the TB control at the primary care level, by expanding diagnostic capabilities, access to treatment, research projects developed in collaboration with the Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado Tropical Medicine Foundation .;Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado (FMT-HVD).; and financing institutions, such as the project for the expansion of the Clinical Research Center and the creation of a hospital ward for individuals with transmissible respiratory diseases, including TB.

Regiones polimórficas del gen 11ß-hidroxiesteroide deshidrogenasa tipo 1 (11ßHSD1) en hipertensión arterial esencial: Posible rol etiopatogénico / Possible pathogenetic role of 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11ßHSD1) gene polymorphisms in arterial hypertension

Background: Cortisol has been implicated in hypertension and lately reported to be regulated at the pre-receptor level by the 11ßHSD1 enzyme, which converts cortisone (E) to cortisol (F). Over expression ofthis enzyme in adipose tissue could determine an increase in available cortisol that interacts with the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) in renal, brain and heart tissue, leading to similar hypertensive effects as in 11ßHSD2 impaired patients. Severa! polymorphisms have been reported in HSDl IB 1 gene (CAI5, CAI9 and InsA83557), which could modify HSDl IB 1 gene expression or activity. Aun: To determine the distribution and prevalence of CAI5, CAI9 and InsA83557 in the HSDl IBl gene, and to correlate these results with biochemical parameters in cortisol/ ACTH (HPA) and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone (RAA) axis in patients with essential hypertension (EH). Patients and Methods: We studied 113 EHpatients (76 non-obese and 37 obese, with a body mass índex >30 kg/m²) and 30 normotensive adults (NT). In each patient, we measured serum levéis of E E, serum aldosterone (SA), plasma renin activity (PRA), adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), the urinary free cortisol/creatinine (UFF/Cr), F/ACTH and SA/PRA ratios. Each polymorphism was studied by PCR and 8 percent polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Statistical associations were evaluated by Pearson correlations and the genetic equilibñum by the Hardy-Weinberg (H-W) equation. Results: We found all three polymorphisms in the EH and the NT group, both in genetic equilibñum. In obese essential hypertensives, the CAI5polymorphism showed association with SA/PRA ratio (r =0.189, p =0.012) and F/ACTH (r =0.301, p 0.048); CA19 also showed correlation with F/ACTH in obese EH (r = 0.220, p 0.009). The InsA83557polymorphism correlated with UFF/Cr in both EH (r =0.206; p =0.03), and in obese EH (r =0.354; p =0.05). Conclusions: The CAI5 and CAI9 polymorphism correlated with changes in biochemical parameters...

Detection of mutator phenotype in Brazilian patients with acute and chronic myeloid leukemia

The multisteps of tumorigenesis involve the classic chromosomal instability and the mutator phenotype pathways featured by a predisposition to acquire mutations in tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes. Expansion and contraction of microsatellite sequences due to a deficient mismatch repair system are a marker of the mutator phenotype. Controversial results regarding the extent of microsatellite instability (MSI) have been reported in the development and progression of myeloid malignancies. Here, we investigated MSI and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) frequencies at the microsatellite loci BAT-26, D7S486, D8S135, ANK1, IFNA, TP53 and bcr of 19 Brazilian patients with acute (AML) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). One AML patient and one CML patient were categorized as having a high degree of microsatellite instability (MSI-H), corresponding to 10.5 percent (2/19) of all patients. LOH at loci BAT-26 and TP53 was present in 30 percent of the patients with AML alone. Despite the small sample size, our results suggest that the mutator phenotype, as verified by MSI frequency, could play a role in the leukemogenesis of a small subset of patients with myeloid leukemia.

Alteraciones genéticas en gastritis crónica: Estudio de inestabilidad microsatelital y pérdida de la heterocigocidad / Genetic changes in chronic gastritis: study of microsatellite instability and loss of heterozygosity

Background: Multifocal chronic gastritis, associated to intestinal metaplasia, is considered a preneoplastic lesion, closely associated to intestinal type gastric cancer. Aim: To study the frequency of microsatellite instability (MSI) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in areas of chronic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia in gastric biopsies of patients without cancer. Material and methods: Gastric biopsy samples from 34 patients without cancer (22 with multifocal atrophic gastritis and 12 with diffuse antral gastritis), were studied. Glands from areas of chonic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia and lymphocytes, were collected using laser microdissection of paraffin embedded samples. The analysis of 15 mono and dinucleotide microsatellites was used to assess LOH and MSI. Results: LOH and MSI were found in some of the markers in 55% (12/22) and 59% (13/22) of cases with intestinal metaplasia, respectively. Only one of 12 areas with diffuse atrophic gastritis had MSI and a different area had LOH (p <0.05 or less, when compared with areas of multifocal atrophic gastritis). Three areas of normal epithelium in patients with multifocal atrophic gastritis, also had alterations. Most of these alterations were concordant with adjacent areas with intestinal metaplasia. Conclusions: LOH and MSI was found in areas of intestinal metaplasia in more than half of the studied cases and in few areas of atrophic gastritis without intestinal metaplasia. These findings suggest that genotypic alterations may precede phenotypic modifications and that intestinal metaplasia is a preneoplastic lesion (Rev Méd Chile 2003; 131: 1365-74).

Trasplante de medula osea en leucemia mieloide cronica / Bone marrow transplantation in chronic myelogenous leukemia

La Leucemia Mieloide Crónica (LCM) es un proceso oncohematológico caracterizado por una proliferación clonal que afecta a la célula hematopoyética primitiva. Un 95 por ciento de pacientes presenta una alteración citogenética característica conocida como Cromosoma Philadelphia (Ph1), producto de una traslocación cromosómica 9:22, que da lugar a un gen hídrido BCR/ABL. Diecinueve pacientes con LMC recibieron Trasplante Alogeneico de Médula Osea (TMO), 9 fueron de sexo femenino y 10 de sexo masculino. La média de edad fue de 32 años (rango 9-47); 15 de los pacientes estaban en fase crónica (FC) y 4 en fase acelerada (FA). Todos los pacientes al momento del diagnóstico fueron Ph1+, BCR/ABL+. El régimen de acondicionamiento consistió en Busulflán y Ciclofosfamida, con el agregado de Etoposido en los pacientes en FA. La profilaxis de EICH se efectuó con Ciclosporina A, Metotrexato y Metilprednisona en 17 pacientes y con las 2 primeras drogas en 2 pacientes. La traslocación 922 se estudió mediante técnica de RT-PCR, con empleo de las sondas NB1+, Abl3, B2A, CA3 y A2. La sensibilidad del método fue de 1 x 10(-6). De 19 pacientes que ingresaron al protocolo, 14 permanecen vivos y en remisión clínica, hematológica y citogenética (Ph, negativo); 3 pacientes fallecieron de EICH agudo, 1 de fallo de "angraftment" y 1 de síndrome urémico hemolítico. De 4 pacientes trasplantados en FA, 3 están vivos y en remisión completa. Los pacientes con LMC trasplantados presentaron una sobrevida del 74 por ciento con un seguimiento medio de 655 días. El quimerismo hematopoyético completo se demostró en 16 pacientes, mediante el estudio de 3 loci, D1S80, APO B y D17S30. No se encontró ninguna relación entre la presencia post TMO del híbrido BCR/ABL (RT.PCR) y la recaída de la enfermedad; la presencia de EICH agudo y/o crónico no tuvo influencia entre la positividad del BCR/ABL. El TMO ha demostrado se en nuestra experiencia la única alternativa terapéutica para la LMC con obtención de remisión completa, clínica, hematológica y citogenética, con una sobrevida media del 74 por ciento comparable a la de centros internacionales de trasplante.