ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Endometrial polyps are common in postmenopausal women, and the effect of tamoxifen use (a risk factor for endometrial polyps) on their pathogenesis is unclear. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the expression of hormone receptors and markers for proliferation/apoptosis (Ki-67 and Bcl-2) in endometrial polyps in postmenopausal users and nonusers of tamoxifen. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional analytical study in a tertiary-level academic hospital. METHODS: 46 women (14 tamoxifen users and 32 nonusers) with postmenopausal bleeding underwent hysteroscopic resection of endometrial polyps. Polyp samples were immunohistochemically assessed for detection of Ki-67, Bcl-2 and estrogen and progesterone receptors. RESULTS: Analysis on the glandular component of the polyps revealed progesterone receptor expression in the polyps of 96.9% of the nonusers of tamoxifen, and 92.3% of the tamoxifen users (P = 0.499). All polyps in nonusers and 92.3% of those in users were also positive for estrogen receptors (P = 0.295). Ki-67 was expressed in 75% of the polyps in the tamoxifen users and 82.8% of those in the nonusers. All endometrial polyps expressed Bcl-2. CONCLUSIONS: The immunohistochemical analysis on endometrial polyps demonstrated that, although tamoxifen is considered to be a risk factor for endometrial polyps, there were no significant differences in the expression of hormone receptors between users and nonusers of tamoxifen. There were no between-group differences in Ki-67 and Bcl-2 expression, and all patients displayed inhibition of apoptosis by Bcl-2, thus supporting the theory that polyps develop due to inhibition of apoptosis, and not through cell proliferation.

Resumo Frutos de acerola e camu-camu possuem alto teor de vitamina C que, no entanto, pode ser oxidada, dependendo das formas de armazenamento e normalmente os frutos são pouco consumidos na sua forma in natura. Desta forma, o presente estudo teve como objetivo produzir pó de acerola e camu-camu por secagem em spray dryer para manter a estabilidade da vitamina C durante o armazenamento. Os pós de acerola e camu-camu foram caracterizados em relação às suas características fisicoquímicas, atividade antioxidante, concentração de vitamina C e estabilidade, em diferentes condições de armazenamento (30 °C e 40 °C, 75% de umidade relativa). Em geral, os pós foram considerados estáveis, com baixa atividade de água (< 0,40) e umidade (< 4,0 g / 100 g de pó), além de alta concentração de vitamina C (1593,2 e 6690,4 mg / 100 g de pó para acerola e camu-camu, respectivamente). Além disso, uma alta atividade antioxidante foi observada pelos ensaios ABTS●+, DPPH• e FRAP. Os pós armazenados em menor temperatura (30 °C) apresentaram maior estabilidade em relação à vitamina C. Assim, pode-se concluir que os pós de acerola e camu-camu produzidos pela secagem por spray dryer são fontes potenciais de vitamina C e compostos ativos, podendo ser utilizados para diferentes aplicações na indústria de alimentos.

Abstract Acerola and camu-camu fruits possess high vitamin C content. However, since these fruits are little consumed in their fresh form, it is important to consider that vitamin C can be oxidized depending on storage conditions. Thus, this study aimed to produce acerola and camu-camu powders by spray drying to maintain the stability of their vitamin C content during storage. Acerola and camu-camu powders were characterized in relation to their physicochemical characteristics, antioxidant activity, and vitamin C concentration and stability under different storage conditions (30 °C and 40 °C, 75% relative humidity). In general, the powders were proven to be stable, with low water activity (< 0.40) and humidity (< 4.0 g/100 g powder), as well as high vitamin C concentrations (1593.2 and 6690.4 mg/100 g of powder for acerola and camu-camu, respectively). Furthermore, we observed a high antioxidant activity by ABTS●+, DPPH• and FRAP assays. The powders stored at lower temperature (30 °C) showed higher vitamin C stability. In conclusion, acerola and camu-camu powders produced by spray drying are potential sources of vitamin C and active compounds and are therefore suitable for several food industry applications.

A síndrome de Vohwinkel ou queratodermia hereditária mutilante é uma queratose palmo-plantar rara, autossômica dominante, que se manifesta em crianças e se torna mais evidente na vida adulta. Seu modo de herança é autossômica dominante com mutação na loricrina e no gen da Conexina 26. Os pacientes com esta mutação apresentam hiperqueratose das palmas das mãos e plantas dos pés, com bandas constritivas dos dígitos, normalmente no quinto dedo e hiperqueratose em forma de estrela do mar nas regiões dorsais das mãos e dos pés. A doença ocorre principalmente em mulheres brancas, onde as bandas constritivas fibrosas aparecerem nos dígitos e podem levar ao estrangulamento progressivo e auto-amputação (pseudo-ainhum).Os autores relatam o caso de uma variante ictiosiforme da síndrome de Vohwinkel.

Vohwinkel syndrome or keratoderma hereditaria mutilans is a rare autosomal dominant palmoplantar keratosis, which manifests in infants and becomes more evident in adulthood. Its mode of inheritance is autosomal dominant with mutation in loricrin and Connexin 26 genes. Patients with this mutation present hyperkeratosis of the palms and soles, constricting bands of the digits, usually on the fifth, and starfish-shaped hyperkeratosis on the dorsal aspects of the hands and feet. The disease mostly occurs in white women, where constricting fibrous bands appear on the digits and can lead to progressive strangulation and auto-amputation (pseudo-ain-hum).The authors report a rare case of a patient with a clinical ichthyosiform variant of Vohwinkel syndrome.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito de diferentes concentrações de colágeno hidrolisado nas propriedades de filmes de desintegração oral contendo extrato etanólico de própolis como componente ativo. Os filmes foram avaliados em relação aos fenóis totais, propriedade mecânica, solubilidade, ângulo de contato, tempo de desintegração e microestrutura. Os filmes foram produzidos por "casting" com concentrações de 2 g de massa proteica (gelatina e colágeno hidrolisado), 30 g de sorbitol/100 g de massa proteica e 100 g de extrato fenólico de própolis/100 g de massa proteica. Colágeno hidrolisado foi incorporado nas concentrações de 0, 10, 20 e 30 g/100 g de massa proteica. Verificou-se que o aumento da concentração de colágeno hidrolisado provocou redução na tensão de ruptura e aumento da elongação, entretanto todos os filmes apresentaram comportamento plástico. Observou-se também aumento da solubilidade à 25 ºC e redução do ângulo de contato, bem como do tempo de desintegração. Observou-se ainda, que os todos filmes apresentaram concentração considerável de fenóis e estrutura interna porosa. Desta forma, maiores concentrações de colágeno apresentaram matrizes poliméricas mais hidrofílicas, mais solúveis e com menor tempo de dissolução o que favorece a utilização destes materiais como carreadores de componentes ativos para liberação na cavidade oral.

This study aimed at evaluating the effect of different concentrations of hydrolyzed collagen (HC) on the properties of an orally disintegrating film containing propolis ethanol extract (PEE) as an active component. The films were evaluated in terms of total phenols, mechanical properties, solubility, contact angle, disintegration time, and microstructure. The films were prepared by casting with 2 g of protein mass (gelatin and HC), 30 g of sorbitol/100 g of protein mass, and 100 g of PEE/100 g of protein mass. HC was incorporated at concentrations of 0, 10, 20, and 30 g/100 g of protein mass. It was found that increased concentrations of HC reduced tensile strength and increased elongation; however, all films showed plastic behavior. An increase in solubility at 25 ºC, a reduction in the contact angle, and disintegration time were also observed. Thus, higher concentrations of collagen led to more hydrophilic and more soluble polymeric matrices that showed shorter dissolution time, favoring the use of these materials as carriers for active compounds to be delivered in the oral cavity.

The genera Aspergillus comprises species that produce mycotoxins such as aflatoxins, ochratoxins and patulin. These are cosmopolitan species, natural contaminants of agricultural products. In coffee grains, the most important Aspergillus species in terms of the risk of presenting mycotoxins belong to the genera Aspergillus Section Circumdati and Section Nigri. The purpose of this study was to assess the occurrence of isolated ochratoxigenic fungi of coffee grains from organic and conventional cultivation from the South of Minas Gerais, Brazil, as well as to evaluate which farming system presents higher contamination risk by ochratoxin A (OTA) produced by fungi. Thirty samples of coffee grains (Coffea arabica L.) were analysed, being 20 of them of conventional coffee grains and 10 of them organic. The microbiological analysis was done with the Direct Plating Technique in a Dichloran Rose Bengal Chloramphenicol Agar (DRBC) media. The identification was done based on the macro and micro morphological characteristics and on the toxigenic potential with the Plug Agar technique. From the 30 samples analysed, 480 filamentous fungi of the genera Aspergillus of the Circumdati and Nigri Sections were isolated. The ochratoxigenic species identified were: Aspergillus auricoumus, A. ochraceus, A. ostianus, A. niger and A. niger Aggregate. The most frequent species which produces ochratoxin A among the isolated ones was A. ochraceus, corresponding to 89.55%. There was no significant difference regarding the presence of ochratoxigenic A. ochreceus between the conventional and organic cultivation systems, which suggests that the contamination risk is similar for both cultivation systems.