Isabel Rosa Cabral

Establishment and conventional cytogenetic characterization of three gastric cancer cell lines

Gastric cancer is the fourth most frequent type of cancer and the second most frequent cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Only a modest number of gastric carcinoma cell lines have been isolated thus far. Here we describe the establishment and cytogenetic characterization of three new gastric cancer cell lines obtained from primary gastric adenocarcinoma (ACP02 and ACP03) and cancerous ascitic fluid (AGP01) of individuals from northern Brazil. ACP02, ACP03, and AGP01 cell lines are presently in the 60th passage. The cell lines grew in a disorganized single layer with some agglomerations and heterogeneous divisions (bipolar and multipolar). All cell lines exhibited a composite karyotype with several clonal chromosome alterations. Trisomy 8 was the most frequent alteration. Chromosome 8 aneusomy was confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization. All cell lines also exhibited trisomy 7 and deletion of chromosome arm 17p. These results suggest that, although frequent chromosome alterations are commonly observed due to culture process, the ACP02, ACP03, and AGP01 cell lines and primary gastric cancer from individuals of northern Brazil share genetic alterations, supporting use of these cell lines as a model of gastric carcinogenesis in this population.

Notificação da violência como estratégia de vigilância em saúde: perfil de uma metrópole do Brasil

A violencia e um problema de saude publica e sua notificacao e fundamental para a vigilância epidemiologica e para a definicao de politicas publicas de prevencao e promocao de saude. O estudo objetivou caracterizar a ocorrencia de violencia domestica, sexual e de outras, a partir das informacoes do banco de dados do Sistema Informacao de Agravos de Notificacao (SINAN), das fichas de notificacao de violencia da cidade de Belem (PA), no periodo de janeiro de 2009 a dezembro de 2011. Foram sistematizadas 3.267 notificacoes, representando um aumento de 240% de 2009 a 2011. Em relacao ao sexo das vitimas, observou-se que, em media, 83,2% dos casos atingiram as mulheres, proporcao esta semelhante nos tres anos analisados. A violencia sexual foi a mais presente com 41,8%; seguida da violencia psicologica com 26,3% e da violencia fisica com 24,0%. Os resultados demonstram a importância do conhecimento do perfil das violencias para intervencao e elaboracao de politicas publicas intersetoriais que promovam a saude e a qualidade de vida nesta regiao do Brasil.Interdisciplinarity in the work routine of professionals of a Residency Course on Family Health in Southern Brazil was investigated in a qualitative study involving 11 residents and 5 su- pervisors of seven professions. Through interviews, observations and focal groups the existence of in- terdisciplinarity in practice was analyzed, duly identifying favorable and unfavorable aspects for its implementation. Interdisciplinarity was ex- pressed as a complex process and concrete action, which occurs in the dramatic implications of its usage, in a dialectical relationship with the polit- ical and institutional context. The study revealed that working in family health care renders the work more complex and that the professionals ex- perience difficulties in sharing knowledge and making the transition between multidisciplinari- ty and interdisciplinarity. The study concludes that interdisciplinarity requires the integrated use of knowledge in the multi-professional practice, the crossing of disciplinary boundaries, the develop- ment of competencies to address the challenges of the work environment and personal attitude as a basic component for professional action. Key words Work, Oganization and administra- tion, Patient care team, Health Services, Human resources, Family health care, Ergology Magda Duarte dos Anjos Scherer 1

Cytotoxic and genotoxic monitoring of sickle cell anaemia patients treated with hydroxyurea

Very satisfactory results have been obtained with the treatment of sickle cell anaemia with hydroxyurea (HU), an antineoplastic drug. This is because it significantly increases the levels of foetal haemoglobin. Nevertheless, inadequate dosages or prolonged treatment with this pharmaceutical can provoke cytotoxicity or genotoxicity, increasing the risk of neoplasia. We monitored patients under treatment with HU for possible mutagenic effects, through cytogenetic tests (mitotic index and chromosome aberrations) for one year. Checking at two-month intervals, the cytotoxic effect was not evident. There was no evidence of genotoxicity under the conditions of our experiment. However individuals treated with HU should be constantly monitored, as an absence of genotoxicity could be transitory; the mitotic index should also be observed, as an indicator of cytotoxicity.

Notification of violence as a strategy for health surveillance: profile of a metropolis in Brazil

Violence is a serious public health problem and notification of incidents is fundamental for epidemic surveillance and for the definition of priorities and public politics of health prevention and promotion. The study sought to characterize the occurrence of domestic violence, sexual and other forms of violence, based on the information of the database of the Information System of Notification of Offences (Sinan), on the records of violence of the city of Belém in the state of Pará, in the period from January 2009 to December 2011. In this period 3,267 notifications were recorded, which represented an increase of 240% in the number of notifications of the year 2009 compared to 2011. In relation to the sex of the victims it was observed that, on average, 83.2% of cases against women and this proportion was similar in all three years analyzed. Sexual violence was the most prevalent with 41.8% of reported cases; followed by psychological violence at 26.3% and physical violence at 24%. The results show that notification is fundamental for understanding the profile of violence and for intervention and elaboration of integrated public politics that promote health and the quality of life in this area of Brazil.

Genotoxic effects of white fluorescent light on human lymphocytes in vitro.

Sources of light beams such as white fluorescent light, are present in our daily life to meet the needs of life in the modern world. This study was conducted with the objective of determining the possible genotoxic, cytotoxic and aneugenic effects caused by this agent in different stages of the cell cycle (G0/early G1, S, and late G2), using different cytogenetic parameters (sister chromatid exchanges--SCE, chromosome aberrations--CA, and detection of aneugenic effects) in lymphocytes from temporary cultures of human peripheral blood. WFL showed a genotoxic effect in vitro, expressed by an increase in the frequency of SCEs, regardless of the cell cycle stage. However, no increase in the frequency of CAs was observed. In addition, disturbances in cell cycle kinetics and chromosomal segregation were also observed. Taken together, such data may contribute to a better understanding and a different management in the use of phototherapy for some pathological conditions.