Joel Henrique Ellwanger

Evaluation of DNA damage in COPD patients and its correlation with polymorphisms in repair genes

BackgroundWe investigated a potential link between genetic polymorphisms in genes XRCC1 (Arg399Gln), OGG1 (Ser326Cys), XRCC3 (Thr241Met), and XRCC4 (Ile401Thr) with the level of DNA damage and repair, accessed by comet and micronucleus test, in 51 COPD patients and 51 controls.MethodsPeripheral blood was used to perform the alkaline and neutral comet assay; and genetic polymorphisms by PCR/RFLP. To assess the susceptibility to exogenous DNA damage, the cells were treated with methyl methanesulphonate for 1-h or 3-h. After 3-h treatment the % residual damage was calculated assuming the value of 1-h treatment as 100%. The cytogenetic damage was evaluated by buccal micronucleus cytome assay (BMCyt).ResultsCOPD patients with the risk allele XRCC1 (Arg399Gln) and XRCC3 (Thr241Met) showed higher DNA damage by comet assay. The residual damage was higher for COPD with risk allele in the four genes. In COPD patients was showed negative correlation between BMCyt (binucleated, nuclear bud, condensed chromatin and karyorrhexic cells) with pulmonary function and some variant genotypes.ConclusionOur results suggest a possible association between variant genotypes in XRCC1 (Arg399Gln), OGG1 (Ser326Cys), XRCC3 (Thr241Met), and XRCC4 (Ile401Thr), DNA damage and progression of COPD.

DNA damage and cellular abnormalities in tuberculosis, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BackgroundTuberculosis (TB), Lung Cancer (LC) and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD) affect millions of individuals worldwide. Monitoring of DNA damage in pathological situations has been investigated because it can add a new dimension to clinical expression and may represent a potential target for therapeutic intervention. The aim of this study was to evaluate DNA damage and the frequency of cellular abnormalities in TB, LC and COPD patients by comparing them to healthy subjects.MethodsThe detection of DNA damage by a buccal micronucleus cytome assay was investigated in patients with COPD (n = 28), LC (n = 18) and TB (n = 22) and compared to control individuals (n = 17).ResultsThe COPD group had a higher frequency of apoptotic cells compared to TB and LC group. The TB group showed a higher frequency of DNA damage, defect in cytokinesis, apoptotic and necrotic cells. Patients with LC had low frequency of chromosomal aberrations than TB and COPD patients.ConclusionCOPD patients showed cellular abnormalities that corresponded to cell death by apoptosis and necrosis, while patients with TB presented defects in cytokinesis and dysfunctions in DNA repair that resulted in the formation of micronucleus (MN) besides apoptotic and necrotic cells. Patients with COPD, TB and LC had a low frequency of permanent DNA damage.

Abnormality of the Foramen Spinosum due to a Variation in the Trajectory of the Middle Meningeal Artery: A Case Report in Human

Originating from the maxillary artery, the middle meningeal artery (MMA) is predominantly periosteal irrigating the bone and dura mater. It enters the floor of the middle cranial fossa through the foramen spinosum, travels laterally through a middle fossa bony ridge, and curves over the previous upper-greater wing of the sphenoid, where it in a variable point is divided into frontal and parietal branches. The complex sequence of the MMA development gives many opportunities for variant anatomy. In a Caucasian cadaver skull of an approximately 35-year-old individual belonging to the didactical collection of the Laboratory of Human Anatomy at the University of Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil, it was noted that the right foramen spinosum has an abnormal shape. In this report, we discuss an abnormality of the foramen spinosum due to a variation in the trajectory of the MMA. Thus, the present study shall be important for health sciences and those who have some interest in pathologies associated with the MMA.