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BackgroundEmerging evidence has shown that miRNAs are involved in human carcinogenesis as tumor suppressors or oncogenes. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in pre-miRNAs may affect the processing and therefore, influence the expression of mature miRNAs. Previous studies generated conflicting results when reporting association between the hsa-miR-196a2 rs11614913 common polymorphism and breast cancer.MethodsThis study evaluated the hsa-miR-196a2 rs11614913 SNP in 388 breast cancer cases and 388 controls in Brazilian women. Polymorphism was determined by real-time PCR; control and experimental groups were compared through statistical analysis using the X2 or Fisher’s exact tests.ResultsThe analysis of the SNPs frequencies showed a significant difference between the groups (BC and CT) in regards to genotype distribution (χ2: p = 0.024); the homozygous variant (CC) was more frequent in the CT than in the BC group (p = 0.009). The presence of the hsa-miR-196a2 rs11614913 C/T polymorphism was not associated with histological grades (p = 0.522), axillary lymph node positive status (p = 0.805), or clinical stage (p = 0.670) among the breast cancer patients.ConclusionsThe results of this study indicated that the CC polymorphic genotype is associated with a decreased risk of BC and the presence of the T allele was significantly associated with an increased risk of BC.

Introduction. We evaluated the association between components of the renin-angiotensin system and the development of breast cancer in a case-control study by means of angiotensinconverting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) and angiotensin II type 1 (AT 1 )-receptor A1166C polymorphisms. Methods. Genotyping was performed by PCR-RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) or PCR (polymerase chain reaction) using genomic DNA extracted from buccal cells of subjects with (101 cases) or without (307 controls) breast cancer. Results. The frequencies of genotypes for ACE were: DD, ID and II (in %: cases: 60; 20; 20; controls: 46; 37; 17; p=0.019, χ 2 ); and for AT 1 -receptor were: AA, AC and CC (in %: cases: 65; 30; 5; controls: 51; 44; 5; p=0.114, χ 2 ). The results suggested that the A1166C polymorphism was not associated with breast cancer risk. On the other hand, for the ACE (I/D), there seemed to be different risks for cancer between cases and controls. Conclusions. The ID genotype was less frequently associated with the disease than were the DD or II; that is, women with the ID genotype were 3.1 times less likely to develop breast cancer than those with the other genotypes. The ID genotype might be protective against breast cancer and the ACE (I/D) polymorphism a possible target for developing genetic markers for breast cancer.

After individual analysis, only gestational age and a diagnosis of severe pre-eclampsia showed significant differences, representing risk factors for this type of delivery.

Due to the conflicting results regarding the association between breast cancer and the GSTM1 null mutation, our aim was to research this association in a Brazilian population and correlations with smoking, reproductive history and several clinical pathologies. A case-control study was performed on 105 women with breast cancer and 278 controls. Extraction of DNA was accomplished according to the protocol of the GFX® kit and polymorphism analysis by the PCR technique. The control and experimental groups were compared and statistical analysis assessed by X 2 or Fisher's exact test. The deletion in the GSTM1 gene in the breast cancer group had a prevalence of 32 (30.4%) individuals with the presence of null mutation. In the control group, the null mutation was present in 104 (37.4%) women. Upon comparison of the two groups, no statistically significant difference of the GSTM1 gene was observed, with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.74, 95%, confidence interval (CI) 0.45 -1.20, p = 0.277. The results conclusively show that single gene GSTM1 polymorphisms do not confer a substantial risk of breast cancer to its carriers. Furthermore, in this study no correlation was found between GSTs and smoking, reproductive history and several clinical pathologies with respect to cancer risk.

RESUMOObjetivos: analisar a correlação entre o polimorfismo PROGINS e o câncer de mama. Métodos: estudo caso-controle desenvolvido entre abril e outubro de 2004 com o pareamento de 50 mulheres com diagnóstico histopatológico de carcinoma de mama e 49 mulheres saudáveis. A inserção Alu de 306 pares de base no intron G do gene do receptor da progesterona denominada PROGINS foi detectada por meio de reação em cadeia da polimerase e analisada em gel de agarose 2% corado com brometo de etídio. Os grupos controle e experimental foram comparados, por meio de programa estatístico Epi-Info 6.0, quanto aos genótipos e às freqüências alélicas, utilizando-se o teste do χ 2 . Resultados: em relação ao PROGINS encontramos uma prevalência na população estudada de 62 (62,6%) indivíduos homozigotos selvagens, 35 (35,3%) de heterozigotos e dois (2,1%) casos com a presença da mutação. Não foi evidenciada diferença significante em relação ao polimorfismo PROGINS, quando comparados os casos e controles, seja com relação à homozigose (62 vs 65,3%), heterozigose (36 vs 34,6%) ou à presença de mutação (2,0 vs 2,1%), com p de 0,920 (OR=1,01), 0,891 (OR=1,06) e 0,988 (OR=1,10), respectivamente. Conclusões: os resultados mostraram que o polimorfismo PROGINS não conferiu risco substancial de câncer de mama em seus portadores. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Neoplasias mamárias; Polimorfismo (Genética); Receptores de progesteronaABSTRACT Purpose: to analyze the correlation between PROGINS polymorphism and breast cancer. Methods: a case-control study was carried out from April to October 2004. The genotypes of 50 women with breast cancer and 49 healthy women were analyzed. The 306-base pair Alu insertion polymorphism in the G intron of progesterone receptor gene was detected by polymerase chain reaction and analyzed on 2% agarose gel stained with ethidium bromide. The control and experimental groups were compared regarding genotypes using the statistical Epi-Info 6.0 program and for frequencies the exact Fisher test or χ 2 test were used. p value smaller p than 5% was considered to be significant. Results: in relation to PROGINS we found in the studied population a prevalence of 62 (62.6%) wild homozygous, 35 (35.3%) heterozygous individuals and two (2.1%) cases with the presence of the mutation. Regarding PROGINS polymorphism, significance was not evidenced when cases and controls were compared, as related to homozygosis (62 vs 65.3%), heterozygosis (36 vs 34,6%) or the mutation (2.0 vs 2.1%), with p=0.920 (OR=1.01), 0.891 (OR=1.06), and 0.988 (OR=1.10), respectively. Conclusions: the results show that single-gene PROGINS polymorphism does not confer a substantial risk of breast cancer to its carriers.

In symptomatic pregnant women, we concluded that the MUCL < 25 mm associated with positive fFN rapid test indicate increased the risk for PTD. Further studies with larger sample sizes could contribute in supporting the results presented in the current study.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: This research project arose from a proposal made to the teachers by the students of a medical course at a federal university in Brazil, from their personal experiences regarding the skills and competencies that should be developed during the obstetrics and gynecology (OBG) stage of the internship. The objective here was to develop the matrix of skills necessary for training good general physicians in the medical course. DESIGN AND SETTING: Exploratory qualitative study conducted in a federal university in Brazil. METHODS:The basis for developing these competencies among OBG interns was "The Competency Matrix for Medical Internship" developed by Bollela and Machado. The instrument was presented to, analyzed by and modified by a set of OBG specialists, at two sessions. RESULTS:The specific competencies expected from students over the internship in OBG were framed within overall topics that had previously been determined and listed: healthcare, decision-making, communication and interpersonal relationships, management and organization of the Brazilian National Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde, SUS) and professionalism. CONCLUSIONS: A competency matrix that standardizes the minimum requirements that interns should be capable of putting into practice after concluding the OBG stage is a valuable tool for ensuring student performance and a fair and rigorous assessment for them, thereby seeking to train good general physicians who meet the community's needs.RESUMO CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: Este projeto de pesquisa surgiu de proposta feita aos professores pelos estudantes de um curso de medicina de uma universidade federal do Brasil, a partir de suas vivências pessoais acerca das habilidades e competências que devem ser desenvolvidas durante o estágio de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia (GO) ao longo do internato. O objetivo é desenvolver uma matriz de habilidades necessárias para a formação de um bom médico generalista no Curso de Medicina. TIPO DE ESTUDO E LOCAL: Pesquisa qualitativa do tipo exploratória realizada em uma universidade federal do Brasil. MÉTODOS: A base para o desenvolvimento dessas competências do internato em GO foi "A Matriz de Competências para o Internato Médico", desenvolvida por Bollela e Machado. Este instrumento foi, em duas sessões, apresentado a, analisado e modificado por um grupo de especialistas em GO. RESULTADOS: As competências específicas esperadas do estudante no decorrer do internato foram enquadradas a partir de temas globais previamente determinados e listados: atenção à saúde, tomada de decisões, comunicação e relação interpessoal, gerenciamento e ordenação do SUS (Sistema Único de Saúde) e profissionalismo. CONCLUSÕES: Uma matriz de competências que padronize os requisitos mínimos que os internos sejam capazes de pôr em prática, após a conclusão do estágio em GO, é uma ferramenta valiosa para garantir o desempenho e avaliação justa e rigorosa dos estudantes, buscando a formação de um bom médico generalista, que atenda às necessidades da comunidade.