Pathways of IFN-alpha Activation in Patients with Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN)

OBJECTIVE

 The aim of the present study was to compare the local and systemic expression of the factors linked to the interferon alpha (IFN-α) activation pathway in different degrees of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and cervical cancer.

METHODS

 A total of 128 patients with CIN I, CIN II, CIN III and cervical cancer was evaluated. The real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique was used to evaluate the gene expression of IFNR1, IFNR2, IFN-α, oligoadenylate synthase (2'5'OAS), cytokine signal suppressor 1 (SOCS) 1, SOCS3, signal transducer and transcription activator 1 (STAT1), and IRF9 from 128 biopsies. A total of 46 out of 128 samples were evaluated by flow cytometry for IFNAR1, IFNAR2, STAT1, IRF7 and IFN-α in peripheral blood cells.

RESULTS

 Patients with CIN II and III (63 samples) had a low local expression of IFNR1, but not IFNR2. Patients with some degree of injury showed high expression of SOCS1 and SOCS3. Systemically, patients with CIN II and III (20 samples) had a significant increase in IFNR1, IFNR2, STAT1, IRF7, and IFN-α in helper, cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and in monocytes.

CONCLUSION

 Patients with high-grade lesions have increased systemic expression of IFN-α and its activation pathways in helper and cytotoxic T lymphocytes, as well as in monocytes due to an exacerbation of the immune response in these patients. This phenomenon is not accompanied by resolution of the lesion due to a defect in the IFN-α activation pathway that revealed by low local IFNAR1 expression and high local expression of SOCS1 and SOCS3.

Prophylactic Dendritic Cell Vaccination in Experimental Breast Cancer Controls Immunity and Hepatic Metastases

BACKGROUND/AIM

Liver metastases are among the principal mortality causes in cancer patients. Dendritic cell immunotherapies have shown promising results in some tumors by mediating immunological mechanisms that could be involved in liver metastases during primary tumor growth. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of prophylactic dendritic cell vaccination on the liver of mice with 4T1 mouse breast carcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Adult female Balb/c mice were submitted or not to vaccination with dendritic cells before the induction of 4T1 tumor lineage. Liver tissues from mice were analyzed by flow cytometry (markers CD3, CD4, CD8, CD25, IL-10, IL-12, IL-17, TNF-α, IFN-γ, T-bet, GATA3, RORγt, and FoxP3) and hematoxylin-eosin. The dendritic cell vaccine was differentiated and matured ex vivo from the bone marrow.

RESULTS

Prophylactic vaccination reduced areas of liver metastases (p=0.0049), induced an increase in the percentage of total T and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (p<0.0001), as well as FoxP3⁺ (p<0.0001). It also increased the levels of cytokines IL-10 and IL-17 in helper T lymphocytes (p<0.0001).

CONCLUSION

The prophylactic dendritic cell vaccine changed the cell phenotype in the immune response of liver, and it was able to reduce metastases. Cytotoxic T cells and regulatory T lymphocytes were more present, likewise, the production of IL-10 and IL-7 simultaneously, demonstrating that the vaccine can induce a state of control of pro-inflammatory responses, which can provide a less favorable environment for metastatic tumor growth.

Effect of replacing ground corn and soybean meal with licuri cake on the performance, digestibility, nitrogen metabolism and ingestive behavior in lactating dairy cows

Licuri (Syagrus coronate) cake is a biodiesel by-product used in ruminant feed as a beneficial energy source for supplementation in managed pastures. The objective was to evaluate the performance, digestibility, nitrogen balance, blood metabolites, ingestive behavior and diet profitability of eight crossbred Holstein (3/4)×Gyr (5/8) multiparous cows (480±25 kg BW and 100 days milking) grazing and supplemented with licuri cake partially replacing ground corn and soybean meal in concentrate (0, 200, 400 and 600 g/kg in dry matter (DM)), distributed in an experimental duplicated 4×4 Latin square design. Licuri cake partially replacing ground corn and soybean meal increased (P<0.01) the intake and digestibility of ether extract and decreased the non-fiber carbohydrates; however, there were no influences on the intakes of DM, CP, NDF and total digestible nutrients (TDN). The digestibilities of DM, CP and NDF were not influenced by licuri cake addition. There was a decrease trend on TDN digestibility (P=0.08). Licuri cake replacing ground corn and soybean meal in concentrate did not affect the intake; fecal, urinary and mammary excretions; N balance; and triglycerides concentrations. However, the blood urea nitrogen (P=0.04) concentration decreased with the licuri cakes inclusion in cow supplementation. There was an increasing trend for serum creatinine (P=0.07). Licuri cake inclusion did not affect body condition score, production, yield, protein, lactose, total solids and solid non-fat contents of milk and Minas frescal cheese. There was a linear decrease in average daily weight gain (g/day). The milk fat concentration and cheese fat production (P<0.1) presented a linear increase with partial replacement of ground corn and soybean meal with licuri cakes. The addition of licuri cake did not alter the time spent feeding, ruminating or idling. There was an increasing trend in NDF feeding efficiency (P=0.09). The replacing of ground corn and soybean meal with licuri cake up to 600 g/kg decreased the concentrate cost by US$0.45/cow per day. Licuri cake replacing corn and soybeans (400 g/kg) in concentrate promoted a profit of US$0.07/animal per day. Licuri cake is indicated to concentrate the supplementation of dairy cows with average productions of 10 kg/day at levels up to 400 g/kg in the concentrate supplement because it provides an additional profit of US$0.07/animal per day and increased milk and Minas frescal cheese fat without negative effects on productive parameters.

[Incidence of meningitis in patients 0-12 years old in the Instituto de Medicina Tropical de Manaus]

The author analyzes the incidence of meningitis in patients with age ranging 0-12 years old treated in Instituto de Medicina Tropical de Manaus, during a period of two years. The illness is correlated with the etiological agent, treatment, follow-up, immediate and late complications, as well as the death by the illness. Comparison of results in this hospital experience with the literature allows a profile of the situation of meningitis in the State of Amazonas, Brazil.

Reflections of a hospital chaplain

Jane Vieira wrote the Journal of Healthcare Chaplaincy enclosing an "open letter" reflecting on her own experience of ten years as a hospital chaplain. While this is in no way an "article," Chaplain Vieira's testimony to her love of chaplaincy was worth sharing.

Impedance measurements of the spinal cord of man and animals

The measurement of electrical impedance of normal and pathologic tissue has not been fully utilized in neurosurgery. This is a report of electrical impedance measurement in the central nervous system of both man and animals. We show the results of the laboratory study done in animals, in the brain and in the spinal cord as well. Also we show the clinical experience of the impedance recordings in the DREZ procedure for some chronic pain conditions, correlating the measurements at the time of the operation with normal conditions, with comments about the findings.

Dorsal root entry zone coagulation for intractable sciatica

Chronic back and leg pain which is unresponsive to medical and/or surgical treatment is a common and difficult neurosurgical problem. Twelve patients with this condition underwent dorsal root entry zone coagulation of that region of the conus medullaris which correlated with the pain. Only 2 patients had a favorable result. The implications of this finding are discussed.

Electrical impedance recording for localization in functional neurosurgery of the spinal cord and lower brain stem

Functional neurosurgery aims to modify or abolish neural messages. Established techniques use confirmatory electrical stimulation prior to ablation and require local anesthesia. Recently developed procedures take place under general anesthesia increasing the chance of damage to adjacent neural structures with postoperative morbidity. We describe a laboratory study correlating changes in measured electrical impedance with transition from white to grey matter in the brain and spinal cord of two mammalian species; this has not previously been easy to undertake, nor felt reliable. Impedances can now be measured simply and reliably. This study confirms our operating theater experience. We recommend that when stimulation cannot be used, impedance can and should be utilized to indicate the need for an electrode to be resited.

Sacrococcygeal rhizotomy for perineal pain

Chronic pain in the perineum is a difficult neurosurgical problem. This article evaluates the effectiveness of sacrococcygeal rhizotomy in 28 patients who had cancer-related pain or coccydynia, underwent rhizotomy, and were followed for an average of 3 years. Good pain relief was obtained in 53% (10 of 19 patients) with malignant pain, as opposed to 22% (2 of 9 patients) with nonmalignant pain. Sacral rhizotomy is a reasonable treatment for cancer-related perineal pain, but it is ineffective for coccydynia and other benign perineal pain problems.