Individuals with periodontitis exhibit differential expression of mucin-glycoprotein-2 (MG2), a protein encoded by the MUC7 gene. It is well known that MG2 exerts bactericidal activity as well as exhibiting genetic polymorphism involving a variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR). In the present study, we assessed the distribution of allelic variants of the MUC7 gene in 22 individuals with aggressive periodonitis, 68 with chronic periodonitis, and 87 without periodonitis. Oral mucosal cells were collected, the DNA was extracted, and specific primers were used to amplify the region encoding the MUC7 tandem repeats (TRs). Polymerase chain reaction products were subjected to electrophoresis and analyzed on polyacrylamide gels stained with silver nitrate. Although the percentage distribution of homozygosity (6-6TR) and heterozygosity (5-6TR) showed variation among the groups, the observed differences were not statistically significant (

Since in a previous study we encountered a subject with an unusual split MG2 banding pattern, the aim of this study was to investigate the molecular basis of this observation. Submandibular/sublingual secretion was collected under resting and stimulated conditions and examined on Western blots probed with anti-MG2 antibodies or on gels stained with periodic acid-Schiff reagent. Genomic DNA was isolated and the N-, tandem repeat (TR), and C-terminal regions of MUC7 were amplified by PCR since MG2 is known to display a genetic polymorphism. Although the typical appearance of MG2 on blots and gels is a single 180 kDa band, salivary secretions from the subject exhibited doublet immunoreactive bands of approximately 180 and 125 kDa. Additionally, under resting conditions the 180 kDa band was predominant whereas upon stimulation the 125 kDa band became predominant. Genomic DNA analysis showed that MUC7 in the individual with split MG2 bands was not truncated and that the MUC7 genotype in this individual was (6/6) where both alleles encoded six TRs. The MG2 split banding pattern observed in this subject was not derived from proteolytic degradation of this salivary mucin in whole saliva or from genetic polymorphism. The expression of two isoforms of MG2 could in principle improve or reduce the activity of this key component of the oral host defense system.

OBJETIVO: Investigar a qualidade de vida de agentes comunitários de saúde (ACS) de Belo Horizonte/MG.MÉTODOS: Estudo observacional, transversal, com amostra de 63 ACS, no distrito sanitário este de Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. O cálculo amostral determinou que a amostra deveria ser composta por 50 participantes. Para selecionar uma amostra representativa, foi sorteada uma Equipe de Saúde da Família para cada centro de saúde, através do programa randomization.com. Dados sociodemográficos e da qualidade de vida (WHOQOL-bref) foram obtidos. Foram feitas medidas de tendência central e de dispersão, bem como análise descritiva dos dados por meio do cálculo de distribuição de frequências. Os resultados foram analisados por meio do software IBM SPSS Statistics, versão 19.0.RESULTADOS: A média de idade foi de 43,7 anos. Na amostra houve predomínio do sexo feminino (96,8%), com união estável/casados (60,3%), escolaridade média (71,5%) e tempo de exercício da profissão superior a 15 anos (31,7%). As porcentagens de ACS que classificaram a qualidade de vida como positiva e têm percepção positiva da sua saúde foram, respectivamente, 49,2% e 39,7%. Os domínios psicológico (65,2) e relações sociais (64,5) apresentaram maiores escores; os domínios físico (60,3) e meio ambiente (50,7) os menores escores.CONCLUSÕES: Os ACS avaliados apresentam percepção pouco favorável de sua QV, sendo o domínio meio ambiente o mais impactado.