ERBB2 in Cat Mammary Neoplasias Disclosed a Positive Correlation between RNA and Protein Low Expression Levels: A Model for erbB-2 Negative Human Breast Cancer

Human ERBB2 is a proto-oncogene that codes for the erbB-2 epithelial growth factor receptor. In human breast cancer (HBC), erbB-2 protein overexpression has been repeatedly correlated with poor prognosis. In more recent works, underexpression of this gene has been described in HBC. Moreover, it is also recognised that oncogenes that are commonly amplified or deleted encompass point mutations, and some of these are associated with HBC. In cat mammary lesions (CMLs), the overexpression of ERBB2 (27%–59.6%) has also been described, mostly at the protein level and although cat mammary neoplasias are considered to be a natural model of HBC, molecular information is still scarce. In the present work, a cat ERBB2 fragment, comprising exons 10 to 15 (ERBB2_10–15) was achieved for the first time. Allelic variants and genomic haplotype analyses were also performed, and differences between normal and CML populations were observed. Three amino acid changes, corresponding to 3 non-synonymous genomic sequence variants that were only detected in CMLs, were proposed to damage the 3D structure of the protein. We analysed the cat ERBB2 gene at the DNA (copy number determination), mRNA (expression levels assessment) and protein levels (in extra- and intra protein domains) in CML samples and correlated the last two evaluations with clinicopathological features. We found a positive correlation between the expression levels of the ERBB2 RNA and erbB-2 protein, corresponding to the intracellular region. Additionally, we detected a positive correlation between higher mRNA expression and better clinical outcome. Our results suggest that the ERBB2 gene is post-transcriptionally regulated and that proteins with truncations and single point mutations are present in cat mammary neoplastic lesions. We would like to emphasise that the recurrent occurrence of low erbB-2 expression levels in cat mammary tumours, suggests the cat mammary neoplasias as a valuable model for erbB-2 negative HBC.POCI/CVT/62940/2004 and by the PhD grants (SFRH/BD/23406/2005 and SFRH/BD/31754/2006, of the Science and Technology Foundation (FCT) from Portugal

Gut microbiota functions: metabolism of nutrients and other food components

The diverse microbial community that inhabits the human gut has an extensive metabolic repertoire that is distinct from, but complements the activity of mammalian enzymes in the liver and gut mucosa and includes functions essential for host digestion. As such, the gut microbiota is a key factor in shaping the biochemical profile of the diet and, therefore, its impact on host health and disease. The important role that the gut microbiota appears to play in human metabolism and health has stimulated research into the identification of specific microorganisms involved in different processes, and the elucidation of metabolic pathways, particularly those associated with metabolism of dietary components and some host-generated substances. In the first part of the review, we discuss the main gut microorganisms, particularly bacteria, and microbial pathways associated with the metabolism of dietary carbohydrates (to short chain fatty acids and gases), proteins, plant polyphenols, bile acids, and vitamins. The second part of the review focuses on the methodologies, existing and novel, that can be employed to explore gut microbial pathways of metabolism. These include mathematical models, omics techniques, isolated microbes, and enzyme assays

Reprodução na juventude: perfis sociodemográficos, comportamentais e reprodutivos na PNDS 2006

OBJETIVO: Analizar características sociodemográficas y de conductas sexual y reproductiva de mujeres jóvenes. MÉTODOS: Estudio poblacional transversal con representatividad nacional sobre el comportamiento sexual, anticonceptivo y reproductivo de 2.991 mujeres de 15 a 20 años en la Investigación Nacional de Demografía y Salud del Niño y de la Mujer (PNDS) 2006. Las jóvenes se clasificaron en tres grupos: iniciaron la vida sexual y se embarazaron antes de los 20 años (grupo A); iniciaron la vida sexual y no se embarazaron antes de los 20 (grupo B) y no iniciaron la vida sexual (grupo C). Mujeres de hasta 25 años se consideraron para el estudio de las tasas de embarazo y de sus consecuencias en la vida. Los análisis estadísticos consideraron los pesos y la planificación del muestreo complejo. La asociación entre dos variables categóricas fue evaluada por la prueba Chi-cuadrado. Para las conductuales, se utilizó el modelo linear global. RESULTADOS: Mujeres del grupo A eran principalmente negras, más pobres y con menor escolaridad. Tuvieron la primera relación sexual más precozmente, comportamiento anticonceptivo más desprotegido y menor conocimiento de la fisiología de la reproducción con relación al grupo B; las jóvenes del grupo C se caracterizaron por frecuentar más la escuela, y la preservación de la virginidad para el matrimonio fue relatada por 1/3 del grupo. En las mujeres con hasta 25 años, el embarazo antes de los 20 fue percibido con más consecuencias positivas que negativas en la vida amorosa, conyugal, social y autoestima. CONCLUSIONES: Hay asociación significativa entre embarazo antes de los 20 años con mayor pobreza y menor escolaridad. En ausencia de mejores condiciones de vida y de oportunidades, el embarazo, aunque no sea previsto, se establece como "proyecto de vida" en comparación con su inexistencia.OBJECTIVE: Analyze the sociodemographic characteristics and the sexual and reproductive behavior of young women. METHODS: A cross-sectional nationally representative study was performed about sexual, contraceptive and reproductive behavior with 2,991 women age 15 to 20 years in the National Survey on Demography and Health of Women and Children, 2006. The women were classified into three groups: sexual initiation and pregnancy before the age of 20 (group A); sexual initiation but no pregnancy before the age of 20 (group B) and no sexual initiation (group C). Women until age 25 years were included in the study about reasons for becoming pregnant and the implications for their lives. Statistical analysis considered survey weights and the complex sample design. The association between two categorical variables was assessed by chi-square test. The behavior variables were assessed using a global linear model. RESULTS: Women in group A were mainly black, poorer and with lower education level. These women had an early sexual initiation, less safe contraceptive behavior and less knowledge of reproduction physiology in comparison with group B; young women in group C were characterized by greater attendance at school and 1/3 of this group claimed to maintain their virginity until marriage. For women up to the age of 25, pregnancy before 20 years was perceived as having more positive than negative impacts upon their love life, spousal relationships, social lives and self-esteem. CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant association between pregnancy before the age of 20 and higher poverty and lower educational level. In the absence of better living conditions and opportunities, pregnancy, although unplanned, becomes "a plan for life", and is not seen as a lack of life planning.OBJETIVO: Analisar características sociodemográficas e do comportamento sexual e reprodutivo de mulheres jovens. MÉTODOS: Estudo populacional transversal com representatividade nacional sobre o comportamento sexual, contraceptivo e reprodutivo de 2.991 mulheres de 15 a 20 anos na Pesquisa Nacional de Demografia e Saúde da Criança e da Mulher 2006. As jovens foram classificadas em três grupos: iniciaram a vida sexual e engravidaram antes dos 20 anos (grupo A); iniciaram a vida sexual e não engravidaram antes dos 20 (grupo B) e não iniciaram a vida sexual (grupo C). Mulheres de até 25 anos foram consideradas para o estudo das razões da gravidez e de suas implicações na vida. As análises estatísticas consideraram os pesos e o planejamento amostral complexo. A associação entre duas variáveis categóricas foi avaliada pelo teste tipo qui-quadrado. Quanto às comportamentais, utilizou-se modelo linear global. RESULTADOS: Mulheres do grupo A eram principalmente negras, mais pobres e com menor escolaridade. Tiveram a primeira relação sexual mais precocemente, comportamento contraceptivo mais desprotegido e menor conhecimento da fisiologia da reprodução em relação ao grupo B; as jovens do grupo C caracterizaram-se por maior frequência à escola e a preservação da virgindade para o casamento foi alegada por um 1/3 desse grupo. Para as mulheres com até 25 anos, a gravidez antes dos 20 foi percebida como tendo implicações mais positivas que negativas na vida amorosa, conjugal, social e autoestima. CONCLUSÕES: Há associação significativa entre gravidez antes dos 20 anos com maior pobreza e menor escolaridade. Na ausência de melhores condições de vida e de oportunidades, a gravidez, embora não prevista, configura-se como "projeto de vida" e não sua mera ausência

Brazilian Sepsis Epidemiological Study (BASES study)

INTRODUCTION: Consistent data about the incidence and outcome of sepsis in Latin American intensive care units (ICUs), including Brazil, are lacking. This study was designed to verify the actual incidence density and outcome of sepsis in Brazilian ICUs. We also assessed the association between the Consensus Conference criteria and outcome METHODS: This is a multicenter observational cohort study performed in five private and public, mixed ICUs from two different regions of Brazil. We prospectively followed 1383 adult patients consecutively admitted to those ICUs from May 2001 to January 2002, until their discharge, 28th day of stay, or death. For all patients we collected the following data at ICU admission: age, gender, hospital and ICU admission diagnosis, APACHE II score, and associated underlying diseases. During the following days, we looked for systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock criteria, as well as recording the sequential organ failure assessment score. Infection was diagnosed according to CDC criteria for nosocomial infection, and for community-acquired infection, clinical, radiological and microbiological parameters were used. RESULTS: For the whole cohort, median age was 65.2 years (49–76), median length of stay was 2 days (1–6), and the overall 28-day mortality rate was 21.8%. Considering 1383 patients, the incidence density rates for sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock were 61.4, 35.6 and 30.0 per 1000 patient-days, respectively. The mortality rate of patients with SIRS, sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock increased progressively from 24.3% to 34.7%, 47.3% and 52.2%, respectively. For patients with SIRS without infection the mortality rate was 11.3%. The main source of infection was lung/respiratory tract. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary data suggest that sepsis is a major public health problem in Brazilian ICUs, with an incidence density about 57 per 1000 patient-days. Moreover, there was a close association between ACCP/SCCM categories and mortality rate

Bryozoans are Major Modern Builders of South Atlantic Oddly Shaped Reefs

Supplementary information accompanies this paper at https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-27961-6.In major modern reef regions, either in the Indo-Pacific or the Caribbean, scleractinian corals are described as the main reef framework builders, often associated with crustose coralline algae. We used underwater cores to investigate Late Holocene reef growth and characterise the main framework builders in the Abrolhos Shelf, the largest and richest modern tropical reef complex in the South Western Atlantic, a scientifically underexplored reef province. Rather than a typical coralgal reef, our results show a complex framework building system dominated by bryozoans. Bryozoans were major components in all cores and age intervals (2,000 yrs BP), accounting for up to 44% of the reef framework, while crustose coralline algae and coral accounted for less than 28 and 23%, respectively. Reef accretion rates varied from 2.7 to 0.9 mm yr−1, which are similar to typical coralgal reefs. Bryozoan functional groups encompassed 20 taxa and Celleporaria atlantica (Busk, 1884) dominated the framework at all cores. While the prevalent mesotrophic conditions may have driven suspensionfeeders’ dominance over photoautotrophs and mixotrophs, we propose that a combination of historical factors with the low storm-disturbance regime of the tropical South Atlantic also contributed to the region’s low diversity, and underlies the unique mushroom shape of the Abrolhos pinnacles.We thank CNPq/FAPES-Sisbiota/PELD, CAPES/IODP, CAPES/Ciências do Mar, and ANP/Brasoil for long term project funding. We also thank ICMBio for research permits and field logistic support, and Conservation International for providing and authorizing the use of the IKONOS image. JMW and JCB are International Visiting Researcher at UFES and JBRJ, supported by the Science Without Borders program. Zá Cajueiro provided invaluable field support and Ronaldo Francini, Carlos Janovitch and Lucio Engler helped in the drilling operations. This is a contribution from the Rede Abrolhos (abrolhos.org)