No abstract

The number of MDR-TB cases seems incompatible with the high TB prevalence in the Amazonas. Most patients were unaware of contact with TB patients. TB is endemic in the Amazonas. This highlights the need for improving resistance investigation among all TB cases.

(1) Background: Activation of the PI3K-AKT pathway controls most hallmarks of cancer, and the hedgehog (HH) pathway has been associated with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) development and progression. We hypothesized that fibroblast-derived insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) acts in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells, leading to the non-canonical activation of the HH pathway, maintaining AKT activity and promoting tumor aggressiveness. (2) Methods: Primary fibroblasts (MF1) were genetically engineered for IGF-1 overexpression (MF1-IGF1) and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated IGF1R silencing was performed in SCC-4 cells. SCC-4 cells were co-cultured with fibroblasts or incubated with fibroblast conditioned medium (CM) or rIGF-1 for functional assays and the evaluation of AKT and HH pathways. (3) Results: Gene expression analysis confirmed IGF-1 overexpression in MF1-IGF1 and the absence of IGF-1 expression in SCC-4, while elevated IGF1R expression was detected. IGF1R silencing was associated with decreased survival of SCC-4 cells. Ihh was expressed in both MF1 and MF1-IGF1, and increased levels of GLI1 mRNA were observed in SCC-4 after stimulation with CM-MF1. Activation of both PI3K-AKT and the HH pathway (GLI1, Ihh and SMO) were identified in SCC-4 cells cultured in the presence of MF1-IGF1-CM. rIGF-1 promoted tumor cell proliferation, migration, invasion and tumorsphere formation, whereas CM-MF1 significantly stimulated angiogenesis. (4) Conclusions: IGF-1 exerts pro-tumorigenic effects by stimulating SCC-4 cell proliferation, migration, invasion and stemness. AKT and HH pathways were activated by IGF-1 in SCC-4, reinforcing its influence on the regulation of these signaling pathways.

Para descrever alguns aspectos da tuberculose em favelas, foi realizado um estudo retrospectivo no Complexo de Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro (RJ) Brasil. Em um total de 290 casos notificados entre 2000 e 2002, 75,8% eram casos novos. A taxa de incidência foi de 157, 205 e 145/100.000, respectivamente. Embora tenha sido observada tendência de diminuição dos números de casos no período de estudo, esta não foi significante, sugerindo manutenção da endemia. Portanto, embora exista um serviço de saúde no local, estratégias mais eficientes devem ser implantadas para auxiliar o Programa de Controle da tuberculose.