IntroductionSince there is evidence of the action of vitamin D as a modulator of insulin release and atherosclerosis, it may well be that the vitamin D receptor polymorphisms are associated with diabetes and its chronic complications.AimsTo examine the associations between vitamin D receptor polymorphisms (FokI and TaqI) and Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and its associated chronic complications in postmenopausal women.MethodsThis cross-sectional study analyzed 100 postmenopausal women with T2DM (mean age 65.7±7.18 years) and 100 postmenopausal women without diabetes in the control group (mean age 65.1±9.18 years; P=0.1608). We evaluated clinical and metabolic parameters and analyzed TaqI and FokI polymorphisms.ResultsThere were no significant differences in genotype and allele frequencies between patients and controls in either of the polymorphisms studied. In the group of patients with diabetes, there were no significant differences in either polymorphism in relation to stroke, retinopathy, nephropathy, or neuropathy. However, in patients with T2DM and coronary artery disease, f genotype (P=0.0361) and the combination of Ff + ff genotypes were observed less frequently (P=0.0462).ConclusionThis study suggests the potential protective factor of FokI polymorphism for coronary artery disease in postmenopausal women with T2DM in the recessive model.

The SOD2 polymorphism Val16Ala T→C influences the antioxidative response. This study investigated the association of the SOD2 polymorphism and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity with the vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) and acute splenic sequestration (ASS) in children with sickle cell anemia (SCA). One hundred ninety-five children with SCA aged 1–9 years old were analyzed. The TC and CC genotypes were associated with lower SOD activity compared with the TT genotype (p=0.0321; p=0.0253, respectively). Furthermore, TC and CC were more frequent in patients with VOC or ASS (p=0.0285; p=0.0090, respectively). These results suggest that the SOD2 polymorphism associated with low SOD activity could be a susceptibility factor for the occurrence of VOC and ASS.

IntroductionPatients with sickle cell anemia (SCA) may present chronic hemolytic anemia, vaso-occlusion and respiratory tract infection (RTI) episodes. Galectin-3 (GAL-3) is a multifunctional protein involved in inflammation, apoptosis, adhesion and resistance to reactive oxygen species. Studies point to a dual role for GAL-3 as both a circulation damage-associated molecular pattern and a cell membrane associated pattern recognition receptor.ObjectiveTo investigate associations between the SNPs of GAL-3 gene (LGALS3) and serum levels with RTI and vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) in children with SCA.Materials and MethodsSNPs +191 and +292 in LGALS3 were studied using the TaqMan real-time PCR system; GAL-3 serum levels were measured by ELISA. The study included 79 children with SCA ranging from 2 to 12 years old.ResultsGAL-3 serum levels were associated with LGALS3 +191 and +292 genotypes (p <0.0001; p = 0.0169, respectively). LGALS3 +191, AA genotype was associated with low and CC with higher levels of GAL-3. For LGALS3 +292, the CC genotype was associated with lower GAL-3 and AA with higher levels. Patients with Frequency of RTI (FRTI) ≥1 presented higher frequency of +191AA (p = 0.0263) and +292AC/CC genotypes (p = 0.0320). SNP +292 was associated with Frequency of VOC (FVOC) (p = 0.0347), whereas no association was shown with SNP +191 and FVOC. However, CA/AC and AA/CC genotypes with lower GAL-3 levels showed a higher frequency in patients with FRTI ≥1 (p = 0.0170; p = 0.0138, respectively). Also, patients with FVOC ≥1 presented association with CA/AC (p = 0.0228). LGALS3 +191 and +292 combined genotypes related to low (p = 0.0263) and intermediate expression (p = 0.0245) were associated with FRTI ≥1. Lower GAL-3 serum levels were associated with FRTI ≥1 (p = 0.0426) and FVOC ≥1 (p = 0.0012).ConclusionVariation of GAL-3 serum levels related to SNPs at +191 and +292 may constitute a susceptibility factor for RTI and VOC frequency.

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Objective: to analyze the nursing care strategies employed in pain management in children with sickle cell anemia. Method: integrative literature review on the topic in the virtual databases Scielo, Lilacs, PubMed, MEDLINE and BDENF in the months of January and February. Results: 17 articles were selected and two analytical categories were identified: knowledge of professionals and education of children and family members about the pathological process of pain and pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment for pain management. Conclusions: as strategies for coping with pain in children, there is adequate pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment, in addition to nursing knowledge that prevents complications, as well as the education of children and family members about the disease, which favors improvement and adaptation to symptoms.