SummaryNeutrophil influx to sites of mycobacterial infections is one of the first events of tuberculosis pathogenesis. However, the role of early neutrophil recruitment in mycobacterial infection is not completely understood. We investigated the rate of neutrophil apoptosis and the role of macrophage uptake of apoptotic neutrophils in a pleural tuberculosis model induced by BCG. Recruited neutrophils were shown to phagocyte BCG and a large number of neutrophils undergo apoptosis within 24 h. Notably, the great majority of apoptotic neutrophils were infected by BCG. Increased lipid body (lipid droplets) formation, accompanied by prostaglandin E 2 (PGE2) and TGF-b1 synthesis, occurred in parallel to macrophage uptake of apoptotic cells. Lipid body and PGE2 formation was observed after macrophage exposure to apoptotic, but not necrotic or live neutrophils. Blockage of BCGinduced lipid body formation significantly inhibited PGE2 synthesis. Pre-treatment with the pan-caspase inhibitor zVAD inhibited BCG-induced neutrophil apoptosis and lipid body formation, indicating a role for apoptotic neutrophils in macrophage lipid body biogenesis in infected mice. In conclusion, BCG infection induced activation and apoptosis of infected neutrophils at the inflammatory site. The uptake of apoptotic neutrophils by macrophages leads to TGF-b1 generation and PGE 2-derived lipid body formation, and may have modulator roles in mycobacterial pathogenesis.

OBJECTIVE: Non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer. Most patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage, palliative chemotherapy therefore being the only treatment option. This study was aimed at evaluating the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of advanced-stage NSCLC patients receiving palliative chemotherapy with carboplatin and paclitaxel. METHODS: This was a multiple case study of advanced-stage NSCLC outpatients receiving chemotherapy at a public hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire was used in conjunction with its supplemental lung cancer-specific module in order to assess HRQoL. RESULTS: Physical and cognitive functioning scale scores differed significantly among chemotherapy cycles, indicating improved and worsened HRQoL, respectively. The differences regarding the scores for pain, loss of appetite, chest pain, and arm/shoulder pain indicated improved HRQoL. CONCLUSIONS: Chemotherapy was found to improve certain aspects of HRQoL in patients with advanced-stage NSCLC.

Modelo do estudo: Estudo de coorte. Objetivo: Analisar as reações adversas ocorridas em pacientes brasileiros com câncer colorretal submetidos ao tratamento quimioterápico com dois protocolos distintos, visando identificar os tipos e a severidade das alterações mais frequentes. Método: Foram avaliados 63 pacientes, que iniciaram tratamento entre junho de 2014 a maio de 2015 em uma instituição do Rio de Janeiro, subdivididos em dois grupos: protocolo mFOLFOX6 (esquema contendo oxaliplatina 85mg/m2, ácido folínico 400mg/m2 e 5-fluorouracil em infusão em bolus 400mg/m2 e contínua 2.400mg/ m2, n= 40) e protocolo FOLFIRI (esquema contendo irinotecano 180mg/m2, ácido folínico 400mg/m2 e 5-fluorouracil em infusão em bolus 400mg/m2 e contínua 2.400mg/m2, n= 23). Foram coletados do prontuário dados relacionados ao perfil demográfico e clínico dos pacientes, além de informações do tratamento realizado e das toxicidades manifestadas. As toxicidades foram classificadas quanto à gravidade (graus 1, 2, 3 e 4) e causalidade (definida, provável, possível e duvidosa). Resultados: Foi observada alta frequência de toxicidades em ambos os grupos, atingindo 92,5% dos pacientes com protocolo mFOLFOX6 e 95,6% com protocolo FOLFIRI. As toxicidades gastrointestinais e neurológicas foram as mais frequentes, independente do grupo. Ao comparar a ocorrência das reações intergrupos, houve diferença apenas para as toxicidades gastrointestinais (p=0,035). Em 17,5% dos pacientes do grupo mFOLFOX6 (n= 7) e em 8,7% do grupo FOLFIRI (n= 2) se observou toxicidades dos tipos 3 e 4, sendo estas classificadas como provável reação adversa aos medicamentos. Conclusão: As toxicidades foram mais variadas e frequentes no grupo mFOLFOX6 em comparação ao grupo FOLFIRI. Entretanto, não se observou diferença na severidade e na causalidade das reações ocorridas em ambos os grupos.