Management of precancerous conditions and lesions in the stomach (MAPS): guideline from the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE), European Helicobacter Study Group (EHSG), European Society of Pathology (ESP), and the Sociedade Portuguesa de Endoscopia Digestiva (SPED)

Atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, and epithelial dysplasia of the stomach are common and are associated with an increased risk for gastric cancer. In the absence of guidelines, there is wide disparity in the management of patients with these premalignant conditions. The European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE), the European Helicobacter Study Group (EHSG), the European Society of Pathology (ESP) and the Sociedade Portuguesa de Endoscopia Digestiva (SPED) have therefore combined efforts to develop evidence-based guidelines on the management of patients with precancerous conditions and lesions of the stomach (termed MAPS). A multidisciplinary group of 63 experts from 24 countries developed these recommendations by means of repeat online voting and a meeting in June 2011 in Porto, Portugal. The recommendations emphasize the increased cancer risk in patients with gastric atrophy and metaplasia, and the need for adequate staging in the case of high grade dysplasia, and they focus on treatment and surveillance indications and methods.

Designing novel hybrid materials by one-pot co-condensation: from hydrophobic mesoporous silica nanoparticles to superamphiphobic cotton textiles

This work reports the synthesis and characterization of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) functionalized with tridecafluorooctyltriethoxysilane (F13) and their in situ incorporation onto cotton textiles. The hybrid MSNs and the functional textiles were prepared by a one-pot co-condensation methodology between tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and F13, with hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) as the template and triethanolamine as the base. The influence of the F13 to TEOS molar ratio (1:10, 1:5 and 1:3) on the nanoparticle morphology, porosity, degree of functionalization, and hydro/oleophobic properties is discussed. The hybrid nanosilicas presented high colloidal stability and were spherical and monodispersed with average particle size of ∼45 nm. They also showed high surface areas, large pore volumes, and a wormhole-type mesoporous structure. The increase in the organosilane proportion during the co-condensation process led to a more radially branched wormhole-like mesoporosity, a decrease in the surface area, pore volume, and amount of surface silanol groups, and an enrichment of the surface with fluorocarbon moieties. These changes imparted hydrophobic and oleophobic properties to the materials, especially to that containing the highest F13 loading. Cotton textiles were coated with the F13-MSNs through an efficient and less time-consuming route. The combination between surface roughness and mesoporosity imparted by the MSNs, and the low surface energy provided by the organosilane resulted in superhydrophobic functional textiles. Moreover, the textile with the highest loading of fluorocarbon groups was superamphiphobic.

Synergetic chemiluminescence and label-free dual detection for developing a hepatitis protein array

A dual detection system for protein arrays is presented that combines label-free detection by optical interference with chemiluminescence. A planar protein array that targets hepatitis B surface antigen is developed. Surface densities for individual antibody spots are quantitated using optical interference prior to use. Target binding (10 ng/ml) is detected label-free. Target binding (1 ng/ml) is detected by both optical interference and chemiluminescence with the inclusion of secondary antibodies. Binding results using both methods are found to be directly proportion to the capture probe density measured initially. The dual detection system provides the analytical utility of optical interference detection with the established clinical utility of chemiluminescence detection.

[Is facial pattern a predisposing factor for otitis media with effusion in children?]

Abnormalities in craniofacial morphology are associated with Eustachian tube dysfunction and otitis media with effusion (OME).

Aim: to evaluate the relationship between facial pattern and craniofacial growth direction, and OME in children with enlarged tonsils and adenoids (ETA).

Methods: Clinical prospective survey in 79 children (41 male and 38 female), ranging from 4 to 10 years of age, with tonsil and adenoid enlargement (Brodsky's grades III and IV). Forty children presented with OME (study group) and 39 did not (control group). Cephalometric analysis was used to determine the facial pattern.

Results: There was no correlation observed between facial pattern and OME (c 2 = 0.25 p = 0.88). Facial Axis was larger in the OME group (F(1.75) = 3.68 p = 0.05) and the Lower Anterior Facial height was smaller (F(1. 75) = 3.99 p = 0.05) in children with otitis media with effusion.

Conclusions: There was no correlation between OME and facial pattern in children with ETA although a more horizontal facial growth direction, and a smaller lower anterior facial height was observed consistently among subjects in this group. This suggests that abnormal positioning of the eustachian tube influences the development of OME in children with ETA.

Otitis media with effusion and dental occlusion: is there any relationship?

AIM

Auditory tube dysfunction is one of the aetiological causes of otitis media. Studies suggest a correlation between otitis media with effusion and dental malocclusion. Our goal was to determine any correlation between dental malocclusion and otitis media with effusion in children with chronic upper airway obstruction due to tonsil and adenoid enlargement.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This prospective study evaluated 52 children with otitis media with effusion and 48 without, aged 4.2 to 10.8 years. A questionnaire was answered by the parents about breast or bottle-feeding and bad oral habits. Malocclusion was diagnosed according to Angle's classification for molar relationships in Classes I, II and III, posterior and anterior cross bite, open and deep bite, and overjet.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

The results suggested no correlation between dental malocclusion and otitis media with effusion. Other potential confounders, such as breast or bottle- feeding and oral habits were also not correlated.

Protein preparation, crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of Trypanosoma cruzi nucleoside diphosphate kinase 1

The flagellated protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi is the aetiological agent of Chagas disease. Nucleoside diphosphate kinases (NDPKs) are enzymes that are involved in energy management and nucleoside balance in the cell. T. cruzi TcNDPK1, a canonical isoform, was overexpressed in Escherichia coli as an N-terminally poly-His-tagged fusion protein and crystallized. Crystals grew after 72 h in 0.2 M MgCl(2), 20% PEG 3350. Data were collected to 3.5 A resolution using synchrotron X-ray radiation at the National Synchrotron Light Laboratory (Campinas, Brazil). The crystals belonged to the trigonal space group P3, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 127.84, c = 275.49 A. Structure determination is under way and will provide relevant information that may lead to the first step in rational drug design for the treatment of Chagas disease.

Creative dance can enhance proprioception in older adults

AIM

It has been shown by many authors that proprioception declines with age. However, few studies have examined the effects of exercise interventions on proprioception. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a creative dance program on proprioception of older adults.

METHODS

Thirty-seven men and women between 55 and 80 years of age, who were not engaged in any exercise program for at least one year, were randomly assigned to an experimental (63.6 + or - 5.7 years) or a control group (65.3 + or - 7.6 years). The experimental group participated in a creative dance program for 12 weeks with a periodicity of 3 sessions of 90 minutes per week. Measures of knee kinesthesia, knee joint position sense and arm positioning were taken before and after the program.

RESULTS

After 12 weeks, knee joint position sense (P = 0.005) knee kinesthesia (in flexion) (P = 0.04), and arm positioning (P = 0.008) significantly improved within the creative dance training group. At 12 weeks follow-up, arm positioning performance was significantly better for the creative dance group when compared with the control group (P = 0.043). The control group did not show any significant improvement in proprioception.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that a creative dance program emphasising body awareness can improve proprioception in older adults.

Thoracic high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in asthma

INTRODUCTION

High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is a widespread medical imaging method for the study of thoracic diseases. In asthma it is very useful particularly when it is difficult to achieve an effective control of disease, and in severe deterioration.

AIM

It was intended to evaluate the imaging changes by HRCT in asthmatic patients and to assess the expression according to the symptoms and duration of disease.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Thirty three patients from the Outpatient Department, with asthma classified in the different clinical severity stages according to GINA, were randomly included. They were submitted to HRCT (Somaton Plus-4, Siemens). The lesions were classified in reversible (mucoid impaction, acinar pattern centrilobular nodules and lobar collapse) and irreversible (bronchiectasis, bronchial wall-thickening, sequellar line shadows and emphysema).

RESULTS

The 33 asthmatic patients (20 female) had an average age of 44.76 +/- 16.98 years and a mean disease evolution time of 23.39 +/-14.83 years. 30% had mild persistent asthma, 43% moderate persistent asthma and 27% severe persistent asthma. All the patients were under inhaled corticotherapy. Only 6 patients had normal HRCT 4 with mild persistent asthma (4 to 25 years of duration of disease) and 2 with moderate persistent (10 to 48 years of duration of disease). 81.81% of the patients had changes in HRCT, being the irreversible lesions the most frequent. The most important irreversible lesions were observed in severe asthma patients with longer duration of disease. All the patients with reversible lesions had also irreversible changes. Most of the bronchiectasis were centrally located and were found in severe asthma patients. Irreversible changes were identified in 3 patients with mild asthma and a maximum of 6 years of duration of disease.

DISCUSSION

HRCT findings were related with asthma severity and long lasting disease but there are some asthmatics that also present early abnormalities, even in milder forms. All the groups of asthmatic patients presented all types of imaging changes, including the irreversible ones. In asthma these changes can be the result of individual patterns of response to frequent exacerbations, leading to a persistent chronic inflammatory process that will determine airway remodelling, even in early stages of disease and/or mild asthma.

Small heat-shock protein Hsp12 contributes to yeast tolerance to freezing stress

The HSP12 gene encodes one of the two major small heat-shock proteins of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and is induced under different conditions, such as low and high temperatures, osmotic or oxidative stress and high sugar or ethanol concentrations. However, few studies could demonstrate any correlation between HSP12 deletion or overexpression and a phenotype of sensitivity/resistance, making it difficult to attribute a role for Hsp12p under several of these stress conditions. We investigated the possible role of Hsp12p in yeast freezing tolerance. Contrary to what would be expected, the hsp12 null mutant when subjected to prolonged storage at −20 °C showed an increased resistance to freezing when compared with the isogenic wild-type strain. Because the mutant strain displayed a higher intracellular trehalose concentration than the wild-type, which could mask the effect of manipulating HSP12, we overexpressed the HSP12 gene in a trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (TPS1) null mutant. The tps1Δ strain overexpressing HSP12 showed an increase in resistance to freezing storage, indicating that Hsp12p plays a role in freezing tolerance in a way that seems to be interchangeable with trehalose. In addition, we show that overexpression of HSP12 in this tps1Δ strain also increased resistance to heat shock and that absence of HSP12 compromises the ability of yeast cells to accumulate high levels of trehalose in response to a mild heat stress.

Protective role of the HLA–A*02 allele in Portuguese patients with multiple sclerosis

Background

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) HLA–DRB1*15. Recent evidence that CD8 T cells are implicated in MS suggests that HLA class I may also contribute. An association of HLA–A*02 and A*03 alleles has been described.

Objectives

We examined the influence of HLA–A*02 and HLA–A*03 in Portuguese patients with MS, independently of HLA–DRB1*15 using a logistic regression model.

Conclusions

DRB1*15 increased the risk of developing MS and HLA–A*02 decreased the risk. A*03 had no effect. To analyze if HLA–A*02 association was independent from DRB1*15, an interaction between these two alleles was introduced in the model; no significant interaction was found.

Autoritarismo e adesão a sistemas de valores psicossociais

O objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar as relações entre o autoritarismo e a adesão a sistemas de valores. Para tanto, utilizou-se a escala de Autoritarismo de Extrema-Direita (Altemeyer, 1981, 1988) e o Questionário de Valores Psicossociais (Pereira, Da Costa & Camino, 2005b). Com base em dados de 284 estudantes universitários de Goiânia, verificou-se que a Escala de Autoritarismo mede duas dimensões políticas: autoritarismo e tolerância. Verificou-se também que os valores religiosos estão relacionados com diminuição da tolerância, enquanto a adesão aos valores hedonistas está relacionada com o aumento da tolerância e com a diminuição do autoritarismo. Além disso, a adesão aos valores materialistas está relacionada com o aumento do autoritarismo. Esses resultados são discutidos ressaltando a importância de uma perspectiva psicossocial que leve em conta os valores contextuais como fatores importantes para a compreensão do apoio das pessoas ao autoritarismo e à democracia.