In order to analyze the effect of the two different versions of the cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14) receptor recognizing gene on survival, we determined the -260C>T single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) frequencies in 514 critically ill patients. We compared the -260TT homozygotes with -260C allele carriers (-260CC and -260CT genotypes) and we demonstrated--260TT patients had the highest survival rate (82% vs 64%; p < 0.001; OR = 2.52, 95% CI = 1.43-4.46). We performed binary logistic regression, incorporating both -260C>T genotype groups and the main clinical predictors to exclude other risk factors that could influence the outcome from critical illness: higher age, APACHE II score, and length of stay at hospital, and the occurrence of sepsis and septic shock were risk factors to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patient's mortality, but the -260TT genotype was protective factor toward survival (p = 0.001; OR = 3.08 95%CI = 1.54-5.98). Among septic and septic shock patients, -260TT genotype was also protective factor toward survival (p = 0.001; OR = 3.11 95%CI = 1.63-6.66 to septic patients, and p = 0.001; OR = 3.80 95%CI = 1.68-8.58 to patients with septic shock). Our results and our hypothesis suggest that the higher -260TT genotype frequency in ICU survivor patients is possibly explained by a beneficial effect on innate immunity signaling.

Background: The susceptibility to adverse outcome from critical illness (occurrence of sepsis, septic shock, organ dysfunction/failure, and mortality) varies dramatically due to different degrees of inflammatory response. An over expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) can lead to the progression of the inflammatory condition. Objective: We assessed the relationship of the genotype distribution of-308G >A TNF-α polymorphism with regard to the development of sepsis, septic shock, higher organ dysfunction or mortality in critically ill patients. Methods: Observational, hospital based cohort study of 520 critically ill Caucasian patients from southern Brazil admitted to the general ICU of São Lucas Hospital, Porto Alegre, Brazil. Patients were monitored daily from the ICU admission day to hospital discharge or death, measuring SOFA score, sepsis, and septic shock occurrences. The-308G >A TNF-α SNP effect was analyzed in the entire patient group, in patients with sepsis (349/520), and in those who developed septic shock (248/520). Results: The genotypic and al-lelic frequencies were-308GG = 0.72;-308GA = 0.27;-308AA = 0.01;-308G = 0.85;-308A = 0.15. No associations were found with sepsis, septic shock, organ dysfunction, and/or mortality rates among the TNF-α genotypes. Our results reveal that the-308G >A TNF-α SNP alone was not predictive of severe outcomes in critically ill patients. Conclusion: The principal novel input of this study was the larger sample size in an investigation with-308G > A TNF-α SNP. The presence of-308A allele is not associated with sepsis, septic shock, higher organ dysfunction or mortality in critically ill patients.

A task-force to resolve 26 pending forensic caseworks was carried out. We tested four different protocols to extract DNA from molar and pre-molar teeth from 26 cadavers with post-mortem intervals from 2 months to 12 years. We compared the amount of DNA and DNA profiles with the time elapsed between death and laboratory procedures. Molar or pre-molar teeth were removed from the corpses, cleaned, and DNA was extracted using 2 or 12h of incubation on lysis buffer and filtered using concentration column or precipitated with isopropanol. DNA profiles were obtained using PowerPlex16™ System PCR Amplification Kit, AmpFlSTR(®) Yfiler™ and/or mtDNA sequencing. Complete DNA profiles comparison and statistical evaluation allowed unambiguous identification of the 26 victims. No significant differences were observed in the amount of DNA obtained with the distinct incubation times. The use of concentration column resulted in an increased amount of DNA when compared to isopropanol. However, the lower concentration of DNA obtained with isopropanol seemed to have been compensated by the higher purity. No significant differences in the number of amplified loci were found. A non-significant tendency was found between the amount of total DNA recovered and the time elapsed between death and laboratory procedures. The increase of post-mortem time did not interfere in the analysed autosomal loci. In conclusion, molar and pre-molar teeth were shown to be good candidates to obtain satisfactory DNA profiles, suggesting the high potential of tooth samples as source for DNA typing independently of the decomposed corpse's time or laboratory procedures.

Challenging of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with lipopolysaccharides (LPS) has been shown to activate monocytes and macrophages, leading to the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) is an important enzyme that may play a central role in the response to oxidative stress. 47C> T SNP of the SOD2 gene, the -9Val MnSOD is less efficient than the -9Ala version. We have previously characterized the cellular redox status of human PBMCs expressing either -9Ala (CC) or -9Val (TT) SOD2 and analyzed the responses of these cells to oxidative stress induced by LPS. Due to the observed alterations in the activities of these antioxidant enzymes, we decided to investigate their immunocontent and analyze the production of intracellular oxidants, as well as any resulting DNA damage. PBMCs were isolated from the blood of 30 healthy human volunteers (15 volunteers per allele). We then analyzed levels of nitrite, DNA damage by comet assay, TNF-α, carboxymethyl lysine and nitrotyrosine and assessed production of intracellular reactive species by the DCFH-DA-based assay and western blots were used to analyze protein levels. Our results show that there occurs an increase in nitric oxide production in both allele groups after challenge with LPS. A significant increase in DNA damage was observed in PBMCs after an 8-h LPS challenge. Cells expressing the SOD2 47C allele quickly adapt to a more intense metabolism by upregulating cellular detoxification mechanisms. However, when these cells are stressed over a long period, they accumulate a large quantity of toxic metabolic byproducts.