No abstract

Evaluation of physical consumption in head and neck cancer patients at diagnosis may indicate a more aggressive type of malignant disease. Thus, the ECOG-PS scale may help to identify HNSCC patients in need of rapid referral, who may benefit from specific therapeutic and rehabilitative interventions.

Genetic polymorphisms in the promoter region of the tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) gene are involved in the regulation of the expression levels of its cytokine. Besides, these polymorphisms have been associated with the clinical behaviour of cancer. We investigated the -308 promoter region polymorphisms of the TNF-α gene and its association with the clinicopathological factors of a head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) sample. Furthermore, we analysed the impact of all the variables on the overall survival of patients. A sample of HNSCC (n=89) was evaluated. Clinicopathological factors and overall survival data were gathered. The TNF-α gene was analysed by using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Data analyses were performed by using bivariate and multivariate statistical tests. Significance was set at p<0.05. HNSCC subjects carrying the A allele (GA/AA) exhibited associations with poor performance status (OR=2.82, p=0.039), lesions located on posterior areas (OR=4.02, p=0.002), and large-size tumours (OR=2.91, p=0.015). Subjects carrying only AA genotype exhibited association with poor performance status (OR=6.667, p=0.007). A worse overall survival was noted in subjects with large tumours (OR=4.87, p=0.005) and locoregional metastatic disease (OR=2.50, p=0.018). Our data suggests that the presence of the A allele/AA haplotype in HNSCC individuals might contribute to the higher clinical aggressiveness of malignant disease.

O Programa Bolsa Família (PBF) constitui uma das estratégias do Estado brasileiro para assegurar o direito humano à alimentação adequada, promover a segurança alimentar e nutricional e contribuir para a construção da cidadania da população socialmente vulnerável. O objetivo deste estudo é investigar os impactos do PBF quanto aos aspectos de segurança alimentar e nutricional. Trata-se de estudo transversal de base populacional. A população de estudo foi composta por 28.774 famílias beneficiárias residentes no município de Vitória da Conquista, Bahia. A amostra constituiu-se de 230 famílias e usou-se como referência o mês de outubro de 2014. Os resultados apontaram para a emergência de melhores perspectivas para o futuro, mitigando as situações de pobreza para acesso a melhores condições de vida. A pesquisa visualizou também elaborações que levam ao questionamento das reais possibilidades da superação da pobreza, uma vez que as situações de carência e vulnerabilidade social e a experiência com os serviços públicos precários, com ênfase para Assistência Social, Saúde e Educação, demandam ações mais estruturadas, que superem a esfera de um programa de renda mínima. Concluiu-se que os impactos do PBF, mesmo evidenciando maior prevalência de insegurança alimentar moderada ou severa, ressaltou que algumas famílias, mesmo em extrema pobreza, conseguiram manter-se em segurança alimentar, denotando também que o programa pode contribuir mais efetivamente para o bem-estar nutricional dos beneficiários, quando combinado com outras ações de políticas públicas. Palavras-chave: Segurança alimentar e nutricional. Pobreza. Impacto no estado de saúde. Saúde pública. Política nutricional. Direitos Humanos.

Molecular mechanisms of lip squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) and actinic cheilitis (AC) are unclear. We aimed at assessing loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and TP53 and BRAF V600E mutations in these lesions. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples of 17 LSCC and 16 AC were included, with additional 5 fresh LSCC genotyped for TP53 mutations. LOH was assessed by six polymorphic markers located at 9p22, 9q22, and 17p13 and correlated with cell proliferation (Ki-67) and P53 immunostaining. Direct sequencing of TP53 exons 2-11 (fresh samples), and exons 5-9 (FFPE samples) was carried out. BRAF V600E mutation was genotyped in eight LSCC. LOH occurred in at least one marker in 15/17 LSCC and in 9/16 AC. The marker exhibiting the highest frequency of allelic loss (FAL) in LSCC was D9S157 (8/12 informative cases) and D9S287 in AC (4/11 informative cases). Cell proliferation was not correlated with LOH or with the FAL and no correlation between P53 IHC and 17p LOH was observed. We found TP53 missense mutations in both lesions and nonsense in LSCC, including CC>TT transition, which is a marker of UV damage. BRAF V600E mutation was not detected. LOH and TP53 mutations detected in LSCC and AC may be associated with tumorigenesis, whereas BRAF V600E mutation does not seem to significantly contribute to LSCC pathogenesis.