Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most common malignances. In epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), epithelial cells switch to mesenchymal-like cells exhibiting high mobility. This migratory phenotype is significant during tumor invasion and metastasis.Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the expression of the EMT markers E-cadherin, N-cadherin and vimentin in OSCC.Material and Methods : Immunohistochemical detection of E-cadherin, N-cadherin and vimentin was performed on 20 OSCC samples. Differences in the expression of each protein at the invasive front (IF) and in the central/superficial areas (CSA) of the tumor were assessed. Differences in the expression of each protein at the IF of both histologically high- and low-invasive OSCCs were evaluated. Associations among expression of proteins at the IF were assessed. Correlations between the expression levels of each protein at the IF and the tumor stage and clinical nodal status were also evaluated.Results : Reduced expression of E-cadherin was detected in 15 samples (75%). E-cadherin expression was reduced at the IF when compared to the CSA and in high-invasive tumors when compared to low-invasive tumors. All samples were negative for N-cadherin, even though one sample showed an inconspicuous expression. Positive expression of vimentin was observed in 6 samples (30%). Nevertheless, there was no difference in vimentin expression between the IF and the CSA regions or between the low- and high-invasive tumors. Furthermore, no association was observed among protein expression levels at the IF. Finally, no correlations were observed between each protein’s expression levels and tumor stage or clinical nodal status.Conclusions : Reduced E-cadherin expression at the IF and its association with histological invasiveness suggest that this protein is a noteworthy EMT marker in OSCC. Although vimentin was also detected as an EMT marker, its expression was neither limited to the IF nor was it related to histological invasiveness.

Descrição de uma nova espécie de Eiphosoma Cresson, 1865 (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae), baseada em cinco exemplares coletados em áreas de hortas orgânicas nos municípios de Araraquara e Cravinhos, no Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Uma chave diagnóstica para as espécies neotropicais do grupo Eiphosoma dentator é também apresentada neste trabalho.

A new species of Eiphosoma Cresson, 1865 (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) is described based on five specimens collected in organic crops areas in Araraquara and Cravinhos municipalities, São Paulo State, Brazil. A diagnostic key to the neotropical Eiphosoma dentator species-group is also provided.

Estudamos comparativamente quatro técnicas imunológicas para o diagnóstico da neurocisticercose (NC) utilizando líquido cefalorraquiano (LCR) como espécime clínico: as reações de fixação de complemento (RFC), hemaglutinação passiva (RHA), imunofluorescência indireta (RIF) e teste imunoenzimático ELISA Foram ensaiadas 125 amostras de LCR de pacientes com NC comprovada e 94 amostras de LCR do grupo controle (60 de pacientes com quadros clínicos neurológicos diversos e 34 de pacientes supostamente normais). Os índices de sensibilidade e especificidade obtidos para os testes foram, respectivamente, de 48,0% e 90,4% para a RFC; 88,8% e 96,8% para a RHA; 87,2 e 98,9% para a RIF e 97,6% e 98,9% para o teste ELISA. A diferença significativa (p < 0,05) observada entre os testes permite concluir que o melhor teste para o diagnóstico de NC foi o teste ELISA seguido das reações de HA e IF.

Four immunological techniques were evaluated for the detection of antibodies to Cysticercus cellulosae in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF): complement fixation test (CF), passive haem-magglutination test (PHA), indirect immunofluorescence test (IF) and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). One-hundred twenty-five CSF from patients with confirmed neurocysticercosis and 94 CSF from a control group (60 from patients suffering from neurological disorders other than neurocysticercosis and 34 from presumably healthy individuals) were assayed. The sensitivity and specificity of the tests were determined, which were, 48.0% and 90.4% for CF; 88 8% and 96.8% for FHA; 87.2% and 98.9% for IF, and 97.6% and 98.9% for ELISA, respectively. There were significative differences among the tests and these allowed to conclude that the best immunodiagnostic test for neurocysticercosis was ELISA, followed by PHA and IF tests.