AIMTo examine the effect of Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) on the microenvironment of colonic neoplasms and the expression of inflammatory mediators and microRNAs (miRNAs).METHODSLevels of F. nucleatum DNA, cytokine gene mRNA (TLR2, TLR4, NFKB1, TNF, IL1B, IL6 and IL8), and potentially interacting miRNAs (miR-21-3p, miR-22-3p, miR-28-5p, miR-34a-5p, miR-135b-5p) were measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) TaqMan® assays in DNA and/or RNA extracted from the disease and adjacent normal fresh tissues of 27 colorectal adenoma (CRA) and 43 colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. KRAS mutations were detected by direct sequencing and microsatellite instability (MSI) status by multiplex PCR. Cytoscape v3.1.1 was used to construct the postulated miRNA:mRNA interaction network.RESULTSOverabundance of F. nucleatum in neoplastic tissue compared to matched normal tissue was detected in CRA (51.8%) and more markedly in CRC (72.1%). We observed significantly greater expression of TLR4, IL1B, IL8, and miR-135b in CRA lesions and TLR2, IL1B, IL6, IL8, miR-34a and miR-135b in CRC tumours compared to their respective normal tissues. Only two transcripts for miR-22 and miR-28 were exclusively downregulated in CRC tumour samples. The mRNA expression of IL1B, IL6, IL8 and miR-22 was positively correlated with F. nucleatum quantification in CRC tumours. The mRNA expression of miR-135b and TNF was inversely correlated. The miRNA:mRNA interaction network suggested that the upregulation of miR-34a in CRC proceeds via a TLR2/TLR4-dependent response to F. nucleatum. Finally, KRAS mutations were more frequently observed in CRC samples infected with F. nucleatum and were associated with greater expression of miR-21 in CRA, while IL8 was upregulated in MSI-high CRC.CONCLUSIONOur findings indicate that F. nucleatum is a risk factor for CRC by increasing the expression of inflammatory mediators through a possible miRNA-mediated activation of TLR2/TLR4.

Objective. The anti-inflammatory proteins annexin-A1 and galectin-1 have been associated with tumor progression. This scenario prompted us to investigate the relationship between the gene and protein expression of annexin-A1 (ANXA1/AnxA1) and galectin-1 (LGALS1/Gal-1) in an inflammatory gastric lesion as chronic gastritis (CG) and gastric adenocarcinoma (GA) and its association with H. pylori infection. Methods. We analyzed 40 samples of CG, 20 of GA, and 10 of normal mucosa (C) by the quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) technique and the immunohistochemistry assay. Results. High ANXA1 mRNA expression levels were observed in 90% (36/40) of CG cases (mean relative quantification RQ = 4.26  ±  2.03) and in 80% (16/20) of GA cases (mean RQ = 4.38  ±  4.77). However, LGALS1 mRNA levels were high (mean RQ = 2.44  ±  3.26) in 60% (12/20) of the GA cases, while low expression was found in CG (mean RQ = 0.43 ± 3.13; P < 0.01). Normal mucosa showed modest immunoreactivity in stroma but not in epithelium, while stroma and epithelium displayed an intense immunostaining in CG and GA for both proteins. Conclusion. These results have provided evidence that galectin-1 and mainly annexin-A1 are overexpressed in both gastritis and gastric cancer, suggesting a strong association of these proteins with chronic gastric inflammation and carcinogenesis.

AIM:To test the hypothesis that, in the Southeastern Brazilian population, the GSTT1, GSTM1 and CYP2E1 polymorphisms and putative risk factors are associated with an increased risk for gastric cancer. METHODS:We conducted a study on 100 cases of gastric cancer (GC), 100 cases of chronic gastritis (CG), and 150 controls (C). Deletion of the GSTT1 and GSTM1 genes was assessed by multiplex PCR. CYP2E1/PstI genotyping was performed using a PCR-RFLP assay. RESULTS:No relationship between GSTT1/GSTM1 deletion and the c1/c2 genotype of CYP2E1 was observed among the three groups. However, a significant difference between CG and C was observed, due to a greater number of GSTT1/GSTM1 positive genotypes in the CG group. The GSTT1 null genotype occurred more frequently in Negroid subjects, and the GSTM1 null genotype in Caucasians, while the GSTM1 positive genotype was observed mainly in individuals with chronic gastritis infected with H pylori. CONCLUSION:Our findings indicate that there is no obvious relationship between the GSTT1, GSTM1 and CYP2E1 polymorphisms and gastric cancer.Colombo J, Rossit ARB, Caetano A, Borim AA, Wornrath D, Silva AE. GSTT1, GSTM1 and CYP2E1 genetic polymorphisms in gastric cancer and chronic gastritis in a Brazilian population.

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e Arnaldo José GANC 3 RESUMO -Foram estudados, prospectivamente, 150 pacientes. Estudo endoscópico revelou gastrite crônica em 109 pacientes (72,6%), úlcera gástrica em 6 (4%), duodenite crônica em 9 (6%) e úlcera duodenal em 26 (17,4% INTRODUÇÃOA endoscopia digestiva alta, complementada com biopsias da mucosa gástrica, mantém-se como método prevalente na detecção do Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), no Brasil.Este estudo teve o objetivo de comparar entre si os testes usuais de pesquisa da bactéria, com base em expressiva casuística. MÉTODOEstudaram-se, prospectivamente, 150 pacientes, de um total de 1.043 atendimentos, por queixas compatíveis com doenças pépticas, no Serviço de Endoscopia Multidisciplinar do Hospital de Base de São José do Rio Preto, SP.Eram 76 homens e 74 mulheres, o tempo de evolução dos sintomas variava de alguns dias até mais de 20 anos, sendo prevalente o período de 1 a 10 anos.Foram excluídos pacientes que faziam uso de qualquer medicação com finalidade antiinflamatória ou que apresentavam afecções que cursassem com imunodepressão, tais como tuberculose, blastomicose e AIDS, neoplasias, gastrite atrófica ou qualquer tipo de operação prévia relacionada com o sistema digestório.Foram ainda excluídos os que relatavam hemorragia digestiva alta, uso de drogas para tratamento de verminose, uso recente de antibióticos ou de qualquer produto para alívio dos sintomas.O exame endoscópico seguiu os ditames da Sociedade Brasileira de Endoscopia Digestiva.Jejum mínimo de 12 horas foi solicitado a todos os pacientes e, antes da realização do exame, cada um aceitou ser incluído no protocolo, após pormenorizada explicação do mesmo, assinando termo de consentimento.Era colhido, com pinça endoscópica, um fragmento da mucosa antral para o teste da urease, sendo transferido, com auxílio de agulha descartável, diretamente ao tubo de ensaio contendo a solução de uréia, fornecido pela Probac do Brasil ® , e guardado em ambiente próximo a 36ºC. A verificação do resultado era realizada após 6 horas.Outro fragmento de biopsia antral, para o exame histológico, era depositado em frasco com solução de formalina a 10% e levado a processo histológico rotineiro, desidratação em álcool, diafanização em xilol, inclusão em parafina, sendo depois submetido a cortes de 5 micra e corados por hematoxilina-eosina e Giemsa.Eram coletados 20 mL de sangue para o exame sorológico, que foram centrifugados em tubo de ensaio por 10 minutos, à velocidade de 1.500 a 2.000 rotações/min, para separação do soro, estocado a 20°C. A leitura foi feita em bloco, pelo método ELISA, para detecção e quantificação de anticorpos do tipo IgG.Na análise estatística dos resultados obtidos, utilizouse o teste do χ 2 , com P<0,05 e intervalo de confiança (IC) de 95%.

BackgroundIn the cancer of the esophagus, with recent technologic advances, self-expanding metal stents (SEMS) are at the forefront of the armamentarium for re-establishing luminal patency. Weighed against the numerous advantages of stents are the import conditions and the cost. In light of this, we tested new low cost prostheses having the basic needs and characteristics to aim a significant benefit to poor people having advanced esophageal cancer, in a Brazilian regional public hospital.MethodsThis initial experience included fifteen patients (eleven men and four women, 55 ± 6.17 years old), presenting esophageal cancer, located at the medium third of the thoracic esophagus, extending for 5.5-8 cm long, not suitable for surgical procedure because they had been staged on fourth grade of the disease, two of them having fistula communicating esophagus to respiratory tree. The stents were placed under endoscopic and fluoroscopic guidance, after attempting an esophageal dilatation. An appropriate covered stent was then deployed, twelve of 10 cm and three of 13 cm in length. A chest X-ray was done 2 h after the procedure and a barium swallow was performed within 12 hours. Seven days and monthly until complete a six month follow-up after the procedure the patients were questioned about presence of pain, regurgitation, heartburn, cough, and their alimentary behavior.ResultsThere were no severe complications and transient mild chest pain resolved until the seventh day after the stent deployment. Chest X-ray demonstrated expansion of the stent in all patients. In 2 cases of fistula, a barium swallow showed its complete sealing. The completion of the proposed follow-up was not achieved in three cases, limited by the patient's death until the third month, due to cancer progression. Recurrent dysphagia to paste food accounted for by tumor overgrowth proximal or distal to the stent and stent migration were not observed in the series.ConclusionsThe new low cost endoprostheses is effective and forthcoming increased experience and prospective trials including questionnaires to analyze quality of life will allow for more informed decisions tailoring to a particular patient situation or to unexpected complications.

Resumo: O presente artigo visa discutir a importância da utilização de fitoterápicos para tratamento de doenças relacionadas ao trato digestório. Para tanto, utilizou-se de pesquisa bibliográfica para identificar quais plantas poderiam ser utilizadas com benefícios a esta região corpórea e averiguar em que medida poderiam apresentar toxicidade ao corpo humano. Neste momento, chegou-se ao número de sete plantas fitoterápicas, com seus benefícios elencados. Palavras-chave: Fitoterápicos, plantas medicinais, doenças. Abstract: This paper discusses the importance of using herbal medicines to treat diseases related to the digestive tract. Therefore, we used bibliographical research to identify which plants could be used with benefits to this body region and ascertain to what extent could be toxic to the human body. At this time, it came to the number seven herbal plants with its listed benefits. Introdução Quando é abordada a importância das plantas para o Planeta Terra, comumente se enfoca principalmente a sua participação no ciclo do oxigênio, onde há conversão do gás carbônico em gás oxigênio, necessário para a respiração da maioria dos seres vivos. Entretanto, as plantas também podem ser utilizadas como fitoterápicos, na forma de chás, compressas, infusões, macerações, ingestão, banhos, por exemplo, em tratamentos medicinais e até hoje essa cultura é utilizada, sendo na sua maioria passada dos pais para os filhos.