Substance abuse prevention during carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: “No hang over band”

Introduction

Carnival in Rio de Janeiro is one of the biggest popular events in the world, gathering millions of people from different countries, social status, beliefs and cultures. As in other events of such magnitude, there are substance abuse problems and, consequently, medical and public order issues.

Objectives

Since 2005, the “No Hang Over Band” (“Banda Alegria sem Ressaca”) is part of the Carnival schedule and parades through Copacabana beach, enhanced by dancers, celebrities, health professionals, public authorities, politicians, patients and their families, besides many supporters who join the group.

Aims

This study aims to reach a massive population with a campaign to prevent substance abuse giving information and alerts about the risks of it and, also, show professional from all around the world a way to do it.

Methods

A few months before Carnival, health professionals from Jorge Jaber Clinic present lectures about prevention quoting the preparations to the parade, as they gather supporters and sponsors. The message reaches the population through flyers, clothes and media (newspapers, T.V., radio and internet) before, during and after Carnival.

Results

The parade itself has been growing year after year, when it comes to supporters, sponsors and media exposure. Schools and other institutions have asked more often for lectures. Brazilian people have shown response to the campaign when they seek for more information and treatment.

Conclusions

With efforts from different parts of society and very little financial investment, it is possible to have real influence over a risk population even in adverse situation.

Discovery of 5-chloro-N2-[(1S)-1-(5-fluoropyrimidin-2-yl)ethyl]-N4-(5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)pyrimidine-2,4-diamine (AZD1480) as a novel inhibitor of the Jak/Stat pathway

The myeloproliferative neoplasms, polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia, and idiopathic myelofibrosis are a heterogeneous but related group of hematological malignancies characterized by clonal expansion of one or more myeloid lineages. The discovery of the Jak2 V617F gain of function mutation highlighted Jak2 as a potential therapeutic target in the MPNs. Herein, we disclose the discovery of a series of pyrazol-3-yl pyrimidin-4-amines and the identification of 9e (AZD1480) as a potent Jak2 inhibitor. 9e inhibits signaling and proliferation of Jak2 V617F cell lines in vitro, demonstrates in vivo efficacy in a TEL-Jak2 model, has excellent physical properties and preclinical pharmacokinetics, and is currently being evaluated in Phase I clinical trials.

Planck spectroscopy and quantum noise of microwave beam splitters

We use a correlation function analysis of the field quadratures to characterize both the blackbody radiation emitted by a 50 Ω load resistor and the quantum properties of two types of beam splitters in the microwave regime. To this end, we first study vacuum fluctuations as a function of frequency in a Planck spectroscopy experiment and then measure the covariance matrix of weak thermal states. Our results provide direct experimental evidence that vacuum fluctuations represent the fundamental minimum quantum noise added by a beam splitter to any given input signal.

Dual-path state reconstruction scheme for propagating quantum microwaves and detector noise tomography

Quantum state reconstruction of weak propagating microwaves to date requires the use of linear amplifiers. We introduce a theory which, even in the presence of significant amplifier noise, allows one to use these devices for measuring all quadrature moments of propagating quantum microwaves based on cross correlations from a dual-path amplification setup. Simultaneously, the detector noise properties are determined, allowing for tomography. We demonstrate the feasibility of our novel concept by proof-of-principle experiments with classical mixtures of weak coherent microwaves.

Odontoid process pathologic fracture in spinal tuberculosis

Craniovertebral junction tuberculosis is a rare lesion in which treatment remains controversial. Options range from conservative treatment to surgery, independently of any associated neurological threat. We here report the first case of pathologic odontoid fracture in a context of spinal tuberculosis, complicated by unusual neurological evolution. The patient presented with non-contiguous multifocal tuberculosis, of which there have previously been only 6 reported cases.

Role of genetic polymorphisms in myocardial infarction at young age

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in young adult presents a typical pattern of risk factors, clinical, angiographic and prognostic characteristics. In the last years we demonstrated that hemorheological profile is altered in these patients in a persistent way and independently of the number of risk factors and of the extent of coronary lesions. Thus, the hyperviscosity syndrome following AMI could be considered an intrinsic characteristic of these patients. Consequently it is possible to hypothesise the presence of a genetic background at the origin of this predisposition. If this background is able to influence the risk of ischemic heart disease, this should be particularly evident in young subjects. Since inflammatory mechanisms play a central role in mediating all phases of atherosclerosis, genes encoding for inflammatory or anti-inflammatory molecules are candidates for the risk of developing atherosclerosis. As atherosclerosis is the first cause of mortality in Western countries and if pro-inflammatory genotypes contribute to risk of coronary heart disease, alleles associated to disease susceptibility should not be included in the genetic background favouring longevity: People genetically predisposed to a weak inflammatory activity have fewer chances to develop cardiovascular disease and, therefore, have better chance for a long-life. According to this hypothesis, we studied in our population of young patients with AMI, the distribution of some polymorphisms influencing a inflammation and found an higher prevalence of pro-inflammatory polymorphisms (SNP A2080G of pyrin gene, SNP Gly670Arg of PECAM gene, C1019T of Cx 37 gene, SNP G1059C of PCR gene) and a lower prevalence of anti-inflammatory polymorphisms (Asp299Gly of TLR4 gene, SNP -1082 G/A of IL10 gene, CCR5Δ32). Results of these studies show that early myocardial infarction could be associated with a genetic predisposition to an intense inflammatory response, associated also to an hyperviscosity syndrome.

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2A6 Genetic Variation Predicts Letrozole Plasma Concentrations in Postmenopausal Women with Breast Cancer

Background: The potent aromatase inhibitor (AI) letrozole is effective in the treatment of postmenopausal women with steroid-hormone-receptor–positive breast cancer (metastatic, neoadjuvant and adjuvant). The beneficial and adverse effects of letrozole vary widely among patients, and differences in pharmacokinetics may contribute to this variability. Letrozole is primarily cleared by hepatic metabolism. Since CYP2A6 has been implicated in letrozole metabolism in vitro, we tested the influence CYP2A6 genetic variants on plasma concentrations of letrozole in breast cancer patients. Methods: Postmenopausal women with early stage hormone receptor-positive breast cancer were recruited into an ongoing multicenter randomized clinical trial to study the pharmacogenomics of two AIs, exemestane (25 mg/day) and letrozole (2.5 mg/day) given orally. Total accrual to the trial is anticipated to be 250 in each arm. Three months plasma letrozole concentrations were measured by HPLC from 146 patients who were randomized to the letrozole arm and multiple CYP2A6 variants were genotyped from genomic DNA. Results: Plasma concentrations of letrozole showed wide variability among patients (16.6 ng/ml to 141.2 ng/ml; 8.5-fold difference). Genotypes were grouped based in to normal (*1/*1), intermediate (*1/*9 and *1/*12, n=23) and slow (*9/*12, *1/*2, *2/*9, *1/*35, *1/*4E; n=12) metabolizers based on genotyped predicted phenotype. A statistically significant difference in letrozole concentrations was observed among the patients with the different genotype groups (p<0.0001; one-way ANOVA), with strong gene-dose effect relationship (r2=0.28; p<0.0001). Letrozole plasma concentrations were significantly higher in patients with the slow or intermediate genotypes than those with normal genotype (p < 0.0001; Dunn's post-test for multiple comparison correction).Conclusions: Polymorphisms in the CYP2A6 gene account for ∼28% of variability in letrozole concentrations in breast cancer patients. Prior genotyping for CYP2A6 variants may help to identify patients who benefit from letrozole and who experience adverse effects from the drug.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 5160.

Pelvic ring fractures internal fixation: iliosacral screws versus sacroiliac hinge fixation

INTRODUCTION

Pelvic ring fractures are severe injuries whose functional results depend on the quality of reduction. Numerous internal fixation alternatives have been described, but the biomechanical studies comparing them remain rare.

HYPOTHESIS

This study compared the biomechanical behavior of iliosacral screws (ISS) with sacroiliac hinge type fixation (SIF) following unstable pelvic ring fractures fixation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A lesion simulating sacroiliac disruption and pubic disruption was created on 14 cadaver pelves. After randomization, the fractures were internally fixed using an anterior plate associated with either an ISS or an SIF. The specimens were then submitted to forces applied vertically at the coxofemoral joints. Relative movements in vertical translation and in rotation between the iliac wing and the sacrum, as well as the stiffness and the forces at failure of the assemblies were measured and compared.

RESULTS

The mean age of the bodies was 66 years (+/-8). No significant difference was demonstrated between the groups in terms of residual motion and stiffness in both vertical and rotational displacement. The results showed a slight residual mobility in rotation of the hemipelvis. The SIFs presented greater, although non significant resistance to failure. No fixation, however, restituted stiffness comparable to a healthy pelvis.

DISCUSSION

The results of this study show that a Tile C.1.2-type injury to the pelvic ring can be treated as effectively with ISS or SIF when combined anterior and posterior fixations are performed. SIF therefore seems reliable and its continued use is justified. The long-term clinical outcomes should nevertheless be evaluated, notably on the younger population, more often affected by this type of injury.

Biochemical characterization, localization, and tissue distribution of the longer form of mouse SIRT3

SIRT3 is a key mitochondrial protein deacetylase proposed to play key roles in regulating mitochondrial metabolism but there has been considerable debate about its actual size, the sequences required for activity, and its subcellular localization. A previously cloned mouse SIRT3 has high sequence similarity with the C-terminus of human SIRT3 but lacks an N-terminal mitochondrial targeting sequence and has no detectable deacetylation activity in vitro. Using 5' rapid amplification of cDNA ends, we cloned the entire sequence of mouse SIRT3, as well as rat and rabbit SIRT3. Importantly, we find that full-length SIRT3 protein localizes exclusively to the mitochondria, in contrast to reports of SIRT3 localization to the nucleus. We demonstrate that SIRT3 has no deacetylation activity in vitro unless the protein is truncated, consistent with human SIRT3. In addition, we determined the inhibition constants and mechanism of action for nicotinamide and a small molecule SIRT3 inhibitor against active mouse SIRT3 and show that the mechanisms are different for the two compounds with respect to peptide substrate and NAD(+). Thus, identification and characterization of the actual SIRT3 sequence should help resolve the debate about the nature of mouse SIRT3 and identify new mechanisms to modulate enzymatic activity.