Evaluation of quality of life among women with HIV/AIDS using HAT-QoL

In order to evaluate quality of life among women with HIV/AIDS, the HIV-AIDS Quality of Life test (HAT-QoL) was administered as a specific tool for individuals infected with HIV. It consists of 42 questions and is divided into nine modules with questions on different aspects of the lives of persons with HIV/AIDS. The scale was subjected to reverse and pre-test translation. Its final form was applied to 73 women with HIV/AIDS. The results, following statistical analysis, indicated that the most negatively affected modules were: "Financial Concerns", "Concerns about Confidentiality", "Sexual Activity", and "Concerns with Health". These results were attributed to the fact that women demonstrated a significant socioeconomic disadvantage which (probably in addition to the infection itself) led to the negative impact on quality of life. It was concluded that the HAT-QoL scale was appropriate for the population of female HIV carriers in this study (despite having originated from a non-Brazilian culture), since application of the scale produced results similar to those found in international publications.     

Antisense therapy specific to mutated K-ras gene in hamster pancreatic cancer model. Can it inhibit the growth of 5-FU and MMC-resistant metastatic and remetastatic cell lines?

K-ras point mutation at codon 12 has a relationship greater than 90% with pancreatic cancer. Cancer therapy should also include the treatment of metastatic disease because it is known that the properties of metastatic cells may vary considerably from those of the primary tumor. AIM: To clarify if the same drugs, which can inhibit the tumor growth in the parental cell line, can inhibit the pancreatic metastatic and remetastatic cell lines at the same concentrations and to compare the inhibition with antisense oligonucleotides mismatched to K-ras gene, in Syrian golden hamsters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HaP-T1, a BHP-induced hamster pancreatic cancer cell line, MS-PaS-1 (a metastatic cell line established from "return trip" metastases from the liver to the pancreas) and MS-PaS-2 named as a "remetastatic cell line", i.e., metastases from MS-PaS-1 were used. MTT and MTT-agarose assays were performed, using 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), Mitomycin C (MMC) and antisense oligonucleotide specific to K-ras oncogene. RESULTS: The inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 5-FU, which inhibited HaP-T1, had to be increased by 50-fold to inhibit MS-PaS-1 and 100-fold to inhibit MS-PaS-2. MMC had to be increased by 10-fold to inhibit MS-PaS-1 and 50-fold to inhibit MS-PaS-2. However, IC50 was the same when antisense oligonucleotide was tried in these 3 cell lines. CONCLUSION: Antisense oligonucleotide-targeted K-ras gene may be a good choice for therapy because it could inhibit the growth in metastatic and remetastatic cells as well as in primary tumor cells.     

A whole genome association study in multiple sclerosis patients from north Portugal

Genetic factors are known to influence susceptibility to multiple sclerosis (MS) but the genes involved are largely undefined. Here, we report an association study based on 200 patients and 200 controls from the Porto region in Portugal. A total of 3974 markers were successfully typed from which we have identified 46 markers showing evidence of association. When compared to a physical map three regions were found with two of these markers less than 1.5 Mb apart: chromosomes 6p21.3 (the MHC region), 6q14.1 and 7q34.