Maternal protein restriction during pregnancy and lactation affects the development of muscle fibers and neuromuscular junctions in rats

Introduction: A balanced maternal diet is a determining factor in normal fetal development. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of maternal protein restriction during pregnancy and lactation on muscle fiber and neuromuscular junction (NMJ) morphology of rat offspring at 21 days of age. Methods: Wistar rats were divided into a control group (CG), offspring of mothers fed a normal protein diet (17%), and a restricted group (RG), offspring of mothers fed a low‐protein diet (6%). After a period of lactation, the animals were euthanized, and soleus muscles were obtained from pups for analysis. Results: The soleus muscles of the RG exhibited an increase of 133% in the number of fibers and of 79% in the amount of nuclei. Moreover, the number of NMJs was lower in the restricted group than in the CG. Conclusions: Maternal protein restriction alters the normal development of the neuromuscular system. Muscle Nerve 55 : 109–115, 2017     

Identification of IL11RA and MELK amplification in gastric cancer by comprehensive genomic profiling of gastric cancer cell lines

AIM To identify common copy number alterations on gastric cancer cell lines.METHODS Four gastric cancer cell lines(ACP02, ACP03, AGP01 and PG100) underwent chromosomal comparative genome hybridization and array comparative genome hybridization. We also confirmed the results by fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis using the bacterial artificial chromosome clone and quantitative real time PCR analysis.RESULTS The amplification of 9p13.3 was detected in all cell lines by both methodologies. An increase in the copy number of 9p13.3 was also confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis. Moreover, the interleukin 11 receptor alpha(IL11RA) and maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase(MELK) genes, which are present in the 9p13.3 amplicon, revealed gains of the MELK gene in all the cell lines studied. Additionally, a gain in the copy number of IL11 RA and MELK was observed in 19.1%(13/68) and 55.9%(38/68) of primary gastric adenocarcinoma samples, respectively. CONCLUSION The characterization of a small gain region at 9p13.3 in gastric cancer cell lines and primary gastric adenocarcinoma samples has revealed MELK as a candidate target gene that is possibly related to the development of gastric cancer.     

Incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in outpatients with cirrhosis in Brazil: A 10-year retrospective cohort study

AIM To determine the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) and the impact of HCC surveillance on early diagnosis and survival of cirrhotic outpatients. METHODS In this retrospective cohort study, cirrhotic outpatients undergoing HCC surveillance between March 2005 and March 2014 were analyzed. Exclusion criteria were HIV coinfection; previous organ transplantation; diagnosis of HCC at first consultation; missing data in the medical chart; and less than 1 year of follow-up. Surveillance was carried out every six months using ultrasound and serum alpha-fetoprotein determination. Ten-year cumulative incidence and survival were estimated through Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS Four hundred and fifty-three patients were enrolled, of which 57.6% were male. Mean age was 55 years. Hepatitis C virus and heavy use of alcohol were the main etiologic agents of cirrhosis. HCC was diagnosed in 75 patients(16.6%), with an estimated cumulative incidence of 2.6% in the 1st year, 15.4% in the 5th year, and 28.8% in the 10 th year. Median survival was estimated at 17.6 mo in HCC patients compared to 234 mo in non-HCC patients(P 0.001). Early-stage HCC was more often detected in patients who underwent surveillance every 6 mo or less(P = 0.05). However, survival was not different between patients with early stage vs non-early stage tumors [HR = 0.54(0.15-1.89), P = 0.33].CONCLUSION HCC is a frequent complication in patients with cirrhosis and adherence to surveillance programs favors early diagnosis.     

Phaeohyphomycosis in renal transplantation: report of two cases

Phaeohyphomycosis is an infection caused by a filamentous fungus that contains pigment melanin in its cell wall. We report two cases caused by Exophiala sp. emphasizing the clinical variability of the disease, as well as diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties of this opportunistic infection in immunosuppressed patients (kidney transplant).     

Pro-epileptic effect of alfentanil in rats subjected to pilocarpine-induced chronic epilepsy

Pharmacological induction of epileptiform activity is a complementary method to study the epileptogenic area in drug-resistant epileptic patients. Among the different activation methods, fentanyl derivatives (e.g. alfentanil) provide one of the most efficient tools in triggering epileptiform abnormalities in surgical candidates. In this study, we tested the pro-epileptic effect of different concentrations of alfentanil in hippocampal slices obtained from control and pilocarpine-treated chronic epileptic rats. The pro-convulsant action of alfentanil was also studied in control and pilocarpine-treated epileptic rats implanted with subdural and hippocampal electrodes for electroencephalographic recordings. In 90% of slices from control animals, application of alfentanil (0.1-5 microM) induced a significant enhancement in amplitude and number of population spikes recorded in the hippocampal CA1 region. In contrast, alfentanil produced a significant reduction in the amplitude of population spikes in slices from pilocarpine-treated epileptic rats. These changes were accompanied by a significant increase in the number of population spikes in the form of epileptiform multispike responses of epileptic slices. Naloxone (20 microM) antagonized the effect of alfentanil in both control and epileptic slices, reducing the number of population spikes in slices from epileptic rats. In control rats, alfentanil induced epileptiform abnormalities in the hippocampal and cortical electroencephalographic recordings but only at concentrations higher than 200 microg/kg (e.g. 350 microg/kg). Lower doses of alfentanil (25 microg/kg) elicited epileptiform abnormalities only in chronic epileptic rats. The potent action of a minimal dose of alfentanil in inducing epileptiform activity suggests an enhancement of the pro-convulsant action of mu-receptor opioids in chronic temporal lobe epilepsy.