Association of breast feeding practice with worm infestation in children aged 0-24 months in Calabar South Local Government Area

Objective:Reduction in child morbidity and mortality require improved knowledge about hygiene,baby feeding and childrearing practices,especially by mothers in low resource nations.The objectives of the study were to compare the prevalence of worm infestation between exclusively and non-exclusively breast - fed children and to determine the age at which exclusively breast - fed children child could be significantly infested with worms. Method:Systematic sampling of 196 mother-infants pairs was done.A pretested interviewer administered semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection.Fresh stool samples collected from the children were examined using the cellophane thick faecal smear technique of Kato - Katz.Results:The difference in prevalence of worm infestation within 6 months of age was not significant between the exclusively and non-exclusively breast feed children.Age of significant worm infestation for exclusively breast -fed infants was/13 months. Mother’s educational level significantly influenced their de-worming practices.Conclusion:This study showed that breast milk does protect children in the first year of life against worm infestation;but the burden of infestation becomes significant after 12 months of age.Mothers should be taught to de - worm their children from 13 months of age.

Women's breast-feeding behavior and its influencing factors in shanghai in the late 1980's

Objectives: To analyze women’s breast-feeding behavior and its influencing factors.Design: A cohort study.Setting: In 2 districts of Shanghai.Subjects: 7 826 couples from August 1987 to August 1988 within 15 months of marriage and having a baby.Methods: From the Luwan and Hongkou Districts’ marriage registration departments out of 15 933 newly married registered couples, 7 911 eligible couples were selected by randomization. Home visits were paid twice at the 3rd and 15th month after marriage. Questions about general status, contracep-tion, births and breast-feeding, etc. were asked. A total of 7 826 couples completed questionnaires was analyzed.Results: 71. 6% of couples had a baby after marriage. The breast-feeding rate at the end of 2nd week after birth was 70.7%. The main reason of artificial feeding was insufficient or no breast milk,which constituted 82. 8% of the total. Logistic regression analysis showed that the factors affecting women’s breast-feeding behavior were wife’s age at marriage, education, ownership of working unit,fertility intention, some personal character and satisfaction with her husband. Infant’s body weight at birth, premature and abnormal birth were also influencing factors.Conclusion: In order to increase the breast-feeding rate, it is important to provide IEC of breast-feeding, to reduce premature births and births of low body weight and increase chances of breast-feed-ing while in hospital.

PRESENT SITUATION OF BREAST-FEEDING AND COMPLEMENTARY FEEDING AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON GROWTH OF CHILDREN UNDER 36 MONTHS IN WESTERN CHINA

Objective To find out the present situation of complementary feeding, breast-feeding and children nutrition, and further explore the relationship between them. Methods Random sampling was adopted and 7302 pairs or mothers and their children under 36 months were investigated by means or questionnaires. Results Breast- feeding rate was 96. 8%,but exclusive breast-feeding rate was only 37.6%. Breast-feeding rate over 12 months was 34.7%,breast-feeding rate over 24 months was only 15. 8%. Timely sucking rate was 8.4%, 19. 2% of children had too early complementary feeding, 26.8% had too late,and 43.1% had appropriate feeding. To the children over 6 months, the feeding rates or meat and eggs per week were 36.3% and 49.3%,respectively. The stunting-rate was 24.0%, underweight-rate 22.1%,and wasting-rate 8.9%. The incidence rate of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) was 23.3%. Multivariable analysis showed that growth of children was associated with diet diversity,intake frequency of eggs and meat, too early complementary feeding,prolonged breast-feeding and diarrhea, etc. Conclusion In rural areas of western China,breast-feeding has been fundamentally popularized,however,the unfit complementary feeding and malnutrition of children under 36 months are common and serious,important complementary feeding recommen- dations and good hygiene condition are strongly needed.

Otoacoustic Emissions and Evoked Potentials in Infants after Breast-Feeding Jaundice——Hearing Dysfunction in Breast-Feeding Jaundice

We study hearing in a group of infants with Breast-feeding jaundice (BFJ) by means of Transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions (T-EOE) and Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) searching for relationship between bilirubin serum levels and auditory dysfunction. Eleven infants born at-term with BFJ were selected for the study. We studied also 11 control age- and gender matched healthy at-term infants without signs of jaundice. T-EOAE studies were performed between 5-7 days after birth, and 3 months later. BAEP studies were performed once. BFJ group infants exhibited lower amplitudes in T-EOE than infants in the control group. These differences disappear at the 3-month evaluation. In BAEP, we observed a significant latency delay of waves I and V in Breast-feeding jaundice group infants. All infants in both groups demonstrated reproducible wave V response at 30 decibels. No significant correlation values were observed between bilirubin serum levels and T-EOE and BAEP variables. Our data suggest that BFJ can result in transient peripheral and central auditory dysfunction. Dysfunction is reversible after treatment of infants with BFJ.

以家庭为中心的产科监护结合待产-分娩-产后护理一体化的产房护理模式对初产妇妊娠结局的影响

目的探讨以家庭为中心的产科监护(family-centered maternity care,FCMC)结合待产-分娩-产后护理(labor-delivery-recovery,LDR)一体化的产房护理模式对初产妇妊娠结局的影响。方法选取2021年10月-2022年3月在郑州人民医院东部院区家庭化产房住院分娩的248例初产妇为观察组,给予FCMC+LDR产房护理模式。选取同期在产科普通病房住院分娩的300例初产妇为对照组,行传统护理。比较2组分娩方式、新生儿结局、纯母乳喂养情况、母亲角色适应能力及住院分娩总费用。结果观察组自然分娩率、母亲角色适应能力评分、分娩30 d纯母乳喂养率、住院分娩总费用均高于对照组(χ^(2)=10.861,P=0.001;t=-8.173,P<0.001;χ^(2)=5.156,P=0.023;t=-26.720,P<0.001);2组宫内窘迫发生率、新生儿1 min和5 min Apgar评分比较,差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论FCMC+LDR产房护理模式能够提高初产妇的自然分娩率和纯母乳喂养率,促进初产妇对母亲角色的适应,但其住院分娩费用较高。

Effect of UV-B radiation on the feeding behavior of the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis

Effect of UV - B radiation on the feeding behaviour of marine zooplankton is important to assessing the health harm of marine ecosystem due to the gradually enhanced UV - B radiation in air. However, there are a few studies on this topic. The feeding behavior of the rotifer, Brachionus plicatilis, under the treatment of UV - B radiation on five species of microalgae, i. e. , Chlorella sp. , Tetraselmis chuii, Isochrysis galbana Park 8701, Chaetoceros muelleri Lermumerman, and Nitzschia clostertum, was studied. The results showed that the filtering and feeding rates of the rotifer decreased significantly with the dose increase of UV - B radiation when fed with five species of microalgae respectively （ P 〈 0.05 ） which indicates UV - B radiation inhibits the feeding activities of the rotifer on microalage. The mixed culture experiments shows the rotifer preferred to feed Chlorella sp. , then C. muelleri, L galbana, N. clostertum and T. chuii in turn if without UV - B radiation. Under the highest dose of UV - B radiation treatment （2.70 kJ/m^2）, the rotifer preferred to feed C. muelleri, then Chlorella sp. , N. clostertum, L galbana and T. chuii in turn. Chlorella sp. , L galbana and C. muelleri became the more favorite foods of the rotifer while T. chuii and N. clostertum became less favorite foods. The change of feeding rate and feeding selectivity of zooplankton driven by the enhanced UV - B radiation will lead to the change in the structure of phytoplankton community.

Is infliximab safe to use while breastfeeding?

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) often affects women around the age of conception and pregnancy. Most drugs used to treat IBD are safe in pregnancy, but physicians must consider the clinical implications of certain treatment regimens in young, fertile females. We report an informative case of a pregnant patient with IBD who underwent treatment with infliximab during her pregnancy and while nursing her infant. Serum and breast milk infliximab levels were monitored throughout this time period. This case report suggests that targeted monoclonal antibodies and other biologic agents can be used with caution in pregnant and breastfeeding patients.

The Application of Billings for Fertility RegulationMethod during the Period of Breastfeeding

In order to adopt Billings Method for fertility regulation during the period of breast feeding, cervical mucus was observed and monitored in 61 breast feeding mothers.Urine estrogen and /or pregnanediol were/was measured in 15 breast feeding mothers. Observations on cervical mucus during 244 months were collected. The type of dry or no mucus was observed in 75.27% fully breast feeding mothers. Constant unchanging mucus was observed in 69.39% partially breast feeding mothers. Developmental changing mucus was observed in 79.25% of mothers bottle feeding their infants. According to the record on cervical mucus within 6 months postpartum, 97.14% of the cervical mucus was consistent with normal menstrual cycles. Urine estrogen and /or pregnanediol were/was measured in 15 breast feeding mothers. The level of estrogen in urine averaged 0.08 μmol/24 h in fully breast feeding mothers and 0.14 μmol/24 h in partially breast feeding mothers.The peak level averaged 0.21 μmol/24 h in bottle feeding mothers.The pregnanediol level was determined to confirm ovulation in bottle feeding mothers. The average levels of cut off and the period of ovulation in 6 bottle feeding mother were 7 μmol/24 h and 9 μmol/24 h respectively.Measurement of urine estrogen and pregnanediol level all matched with cervical mucus appearances. Conclusion: Billings Method is a simple, scientific method for contraception without side effects during breast feeding period.

Pharmacological role of efflux transporters: Clinical implications for medication use during breastfeeding

The World Health Organisation recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of an infant's life and in combination with solid food thereafter. This recommendation was introduced based on research showing numerous health benefits of breastfeeding for both the mother and the infant. However, there is always concern regarding the transfer of medications from mother to their breastfed baby via milk. Pharmacokinetic properties of a drug are usually used to predict its transferability into breast milk. Although most drugs are compatible with breastfeeding, cases of toxic drug exposure have been reported. This is thought to be due to active transport mechanisms whereby efflux transporter proteins expressed in the epithelial cells of the mammary gland actively secrete drugs into milk. An example of such efflux transporters including the breast cancer resistance protein which is strongly induced during lactation and this could result in contamination of milk with the substrates of this transporter which may place the suckling infant at risk of toxicity. Furthermore, there is little known about the substrate specificity of most efflux transporters as we have highlighted in this review. There also exists some degree of contradiction between in vivo and in vitro studies which makes it difficult to conclusively predict outcomes and drug-drug interactions.

Predictors of Exclusive Breastfeeding Duration among Mothers Attending Immunization Clinic in a Tertiary Health Facility in Enugu, Nigeria

Background: Breastfeeding is cost effective means towards the realization of some key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by the year 2030 particularly in resource limited settings. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the predictors of exclusive breastfeeding duration among mother and child pairs utilizing a tertiary immunization clinic facility. Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. Respondents were mother-and-child pairs who were recruited consecutively. Relevant maternal and child characteristics were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20.0 (p Results: Four hundred and twenty seven mother-child pairs were studied. Majority of the mothers have at least secondary education, 383 (80.7%). 407 (95.3%) of the mothers fully understood the actual meaning of EBF. 189 (42.7%) reported practicing EBF in their index child for six months. Maternal perception of insufficient milk production, 52/99 (52.5%) was the most common reason for practicing EBF for Maternal education and occupation and gender of the child were significantly associated with completion of EBF for 6 months among respondents. Conclusion: EBF duration in the current study is low and is significantly associated with maternal education, maternal occupation and gender of the child. Improving girl child education, complementing baby friendly hospital initiative with baby friendly community initiative should be adopted to improve EBF duration in our setting.

Determinates of Childhood Pneumonia and Diarrhea with Special Emphasis to Exclusive Breastfeeding in North Achefer District, Northwest Ethiopia: A Case Control Study

Studies showed that exclusive breast feeding reduced infant morbidity and mortality. In low income countries such as Ethiopia where under-five mortality is very high, the role of exclusively breastfeeding could be even more critical. However, studies assessing the place of exclusive breast freeing in the prevention of childhood illnesses in our area are scarce. The aim of the study was to identify determinant factors of childhood pneumonia and diarrhoea. An institution based case control study was conducted in Achefer District in July, 2012. The cases were 122 children of 7 - 24 months old who had repeated attack of diarrhoea or pneumonia over three months prior to the survey while controls were 122 children who visited well baby clinic for vaccination. Data were collected by using pre-tested and structured questionnaire, and analysed using SPSS version 16 for windows. Logistic regression was performed, and strength of associations was estimated using odds ratio and 95% confidence interval. About 83% of the controls and only 12.3% of the cases were exclusively breast fed. Children who were exclusively breast fed were 83 times less likely to develop pneumonia or diarrhea than those who were not exclusively fed. Marital status, monthly income, prelacteal feeding, and late initiation of breast feeding were found to have statistically significant association with childhood diarrhea and pneumonia. This study brought local evidence that exclusive breast feeding had a protective effect against common childhood infectious diseases—pneumonia and diarrhoea—in the study area. Therefore, culture sensitive and plausible health education is recommended to strengthen exclusive breast feeding practices in order to decrease mortality and morbidity of infants and children from pneumonia and diarrhoea.

Successful management of a breastfeeding mother with severe eczema of the nipple beginning from puberty:A case report

BACKGROUND Nipple eczema is the most common presentation of atopic dermatitis of the breast,which seriously influences breastfeeding of mothers.We here present a case of severe nipple eczema that started in puberty and received continuous care and interventions during pregnancy.The patient succeeded in breastfeeding after the interventions.CASE SUMMARY A 36-year-old woman at 16 wk of gestation(gestation 1 parturition 0),visited the breastfeeding consultation clinic,complaining of excessive nipple secretion,severe itching,and concerns about breastfeeding.She was diagnosed with severe nipple eczema.Health education,consultation with dermatologists,topical medication,psychological support,and postpartum care were carried out.Through continuous interventions,her nipple eczema significantly improved,lactating confidence enhanced,anxiety symptoms were reduced,and exclusive breastfeeding was achieved.CONCLUSION For lactating women with nipple eczema,breastfeeding consultants should play an important role in patient education and provide whole-process and individual guidance.

First Hour Initiation of Breast Feeding &Associated Factors, among Mothers at Post Natal Ward in Fort Portal Referral Hospital, Uganda

Background: Breast milk is recommended as the best feeding option to neonates and infants for it confers immunological benefits that help to reduce neonatal and infant morbidities and mortalities. WHO recommends that all infants should start breast feeding within one hour of birth i.e. early initiation of breast feeding (EIBF). Unfortunately, studies show that less than 40% of infants in resource limited settings Uganda inclusive are initiated on breast feeding practice, with no documented study done in Kabarole district to assess the problem. This study therefore, set out to establish the prevalence and associated factors with the practice of first hour initiation of breast feeding at Fort Portal Regional Hospital, Kabarole district, Uganda. Methods: With a cross-sectional design, we collected data from 330 post natal mothers and their live-born infants at Fort Portal Regional Referral hospital from 5th-20th August 2019. With a standard interviewer administered tool, mothers who initiated breast feeding within the first hour after delivery of their newly born babies responded with yes and those that did not with a no. Prevalence of one hour initiation was got considering infants that were initiated on breast within one hour over the total live birth times 100 to get the percent prevalence. With Stata version 13 software, statistically significant relationships of the predisposing factors were determined at a p-value (p ≤ 0.05) at bivariate and at multivariate regression coefficient. Results: A total of 330 postnatal mothers targeted for this study, 100% response rate was covered. Mothers’ age ranged from 18 - 45 years with mean age 31 SD ± 6. The prevalence of initiation of breast feeding in the first hour of birth was 68%, a third of (32%) mothers had not initiated breast feeding in the first hour. A half (50%) of the direct predisposing factors for non-initiation of timely breastfeeding were due to birth asphyxia, almost a quarter 23% due to mother’s ill health and 7% due mother not being guided by the health worker on what to do. In this study mothers’ knowledge and awareness of the practice were very low at 20% while that of health workers was fair at 53%. Social demographic factors that influence 1st hour breast feeding practice were;young maternal age being less than 34 years, mothers occupation being self-employed (83%) or unemployed (73%) with 3 times higher odds of initiating breastfeeding within 1st (OR = 3, p = 0.003) than working class mothers (civil servants). Marital status of mothers being married (73%) significantly influenced early breastfeeding practice (p = 0.001). Health workers’ knowledge of the practice was significantly associated (OR = 2.7, X2 = 11.32, *p = 0.00078) with enforcement of mother initiation of breast feeding in first hour compared to the less knowledgeable ones. Conclusion: The practice of timely initiation of breastfeeding at Fort Portal Regional Referral hospital at 68.2% was sub-optimal against WHO universal practice recommendations. Mothers’ low knowledge on timely initiation of breast feeding practice was the most deterrent factor for first hour initiation of breastfeeding practice. Providing breastfeeding counselling to all mothers during ANC and training on best breastfeeding practices and counselling skills for health staff at Fort Portal Referral hospital are urgent recommendation in this study to improve the practice.

基于信息-动机-行为技能模型分析初产妇住院期间母乳喂养的影响因素

目的调查初产妇住院期间母乳喂养现状,分析初产妇住院期间母乳喂养的影响因素,旨在为临床健康教育提供依据。方法采用便利抽样法,选取2022年1月至6月在广州市妇女儿童医疗中心产科分娩的271例初产妇作为研究对象,进行基于信息-动机-行为技能模型(IMB)的问卷调查,采用多因素logistic回归分析初产妇住院期间母乳喂养的影响因素。结果住院期间初产妇母乳喂养率为67.9%(184/271),住院期间母乳喂养宣教(OR=9.223,P=0.002,95%CI=2.243~37.935)、产后母乳喂养知识(OR=0.885,P=0.029,95%CI=0.793~0.988)、母乳喂养态度(OR=0.900,P<0.001,95%CI=0.861~0.940)、母乳喂养自我效能(OR=0.963,P=0.011,95%CI=0.935~0.991)及喂养质量(OR=0.746,P<0.001,95%CI=0.634~0.877)是初产妇非母乳喂养的影响因素。结论基于IMB从信息维度、动机维度、行为技能和行为维度分析初产妇住院期间母乳喂养的影响因素,发现初产妇住院期间母乳喂养受多种因素影响,应加强母乳喂养宣教,提高产妇母乳喂养知识,改善母乳喂养态度,增强产妇的自我效能,掌握母乳喂养技能,提高母乳喂养质量,从而提升母乳喂养率,促进母婴健康。

Comparisons between glucose analogue 2-deoxy-2-(^(18)F)fluoro-D-glucose and ^(18)F-sodium fluoride positron emission tomography/computed tomography in breast cancer patients with bone lesions

AIM: To compare 2-deoxy-2-(^(18)F)fluoro-D-glucose(^(18)FFDG) and ^(18)F-sodium(^(18)F-NaF) positron emission tomography/computed tomography(PET/CT) accuracy in breast cancer patients with clinically/radiologically suspected or known bone metastases.METHODS: A total of 45 consecutive patients with breast cancer and the presence or clinical/biochemical or radiological suspicion of bone metastatic disease underwent ^(18)F-FDG and ^(18)F-fluoride PET/CT. Imaging results were compared with histopathology when available, or clinical and radiological follow-up of at least 1 year. For each technique we calculated: Sensitivity(Se), specificity(Sp), overall accuracy, positive and negative predictive values, error rate, and Youden's index. Mc Nemar's χ~2 test was used to test the difference in sensitivity and specificity between the two diagnostic methods. All analyses were computed on a patient basis, and then on a lesion basis, with consideration ofthe density of independent lesions on the coregistered CT(sclerotic, lytic, mixed, no-lesions) and the divergent site of disease(skull, spine, ribs, extremities, pelvis). The impact of adding ^(18)F-Na F PET/CT to the work-up of patients was also measured in terms of change in their management due to ^(18)F-Na F PET/CT findings. RESULTS: The two imaging methods of ^(18)F-FDG and ^(18)F-fluoride PET/CT were significantly different at the patient-based analysis: Accuracy was 86.7% and 84.4%, respectively(Mc Nemar's χ~2 = 6.23, df = 1, P = 0.01). Overall, 244 bone lesions were detected in our analysis. The overall accuracy of the two methods was significantly different at lesion-based analysis(Mc Nemar's χ~2 = 93.4, df = 1, P < 0.0001). In the lesion density-based and site-based analysis, ^(18)F-FDG PET/CT provided more accurate results in the detection of CT-negative metastasis(P < 0.002) and vertebral localizations(P < 0.002); ^(18)F-Na F PET/CT was more accurate in detecting sclerotic(P < 0.005) and rib lesions(P < 0.04). ^(18)F-Na F PET/CT led to a change of management in 3 of the 45 patients(6.6%) by revealing findings that were not detected at ^(18)F-FDG PET/CT. CONCLUSION: ^(18)F-FDG PET/CT is a reliable imaging tool in the detection of bone metastasis in most cases, with a diagnostic accuracy that is slightly, but significantly, superior to that of ^(18)F-Na F PET/CT in the general population of breast cancer patients. However, the extremely high sensitivity of ^(18)F-fluoride PET/CT can exploit its diagnostic potential in specific clinical settings(i.e., small CT-evident sclerotic lesions, high clinical suspicious of relapse, and negative ^(18)F-FDG PET and conventional imaging).

Characteristics of allergic colitis in breast-fed infants in the absence of cow's milk allergy

AIM: To investigate the characteristics of mucosal le-sions and their relation to laboratory data and long-term follow up in breast-fed infants with allergic colitis. METHODS: In this study 31 breast-fed infants were prospectively evaluated (mean age, 17.4 wk) whose rectal bleeding had not ceased after a maternal elimi-nation diet for cow's milk. Thirty-four age-matched and breast-fed infants (mean age, 16.9 wk) with no rectal bleeding were enrolled for laboratory testing as con-trols. Laboratory findings, colonoscopic and histological characteristics were prospectively evaluated in infants with rectal bleeding. Long-term follow-up with differ-ent nutritional regimes (L-amino-acid based formula or breastfeeding) was also included. RESULTS: Iron deficiency, peripheral eosinophilia andthrombocytosis were significantly higher in patients with allergic colitis in comparison to controls (8.4±3.2 μmol/L vs 13.7±4.7 μmol/L, P<0.001; 0.67±0.49 G/L vs 0.33±0.17 G/L, P<0.001; 474±123 G/L vs 376±89 G/L, P<0.001, respectively). At colonosco-py, lymphonodular hyperplasia or aphthous ulceration were present in 83% of patients. Twenty-two patients were given L-amino acid-based formula and 8 contin-ued the previous feeding. Time to cessation of rectal bleeding was shorter in the special formula feeding group (mean, 1.4 wk; range, 0.5-3 wk) when com-pared with the breast-feeding group (mean, 5.3 wk; range, 2-9 wk). Nevertheless, none of the patients ex-hibited rectal bleeding at the 3-mo visit irrespective of the type of feeding. Peripheral eosinophilia and cessa-tion of rectal bleeding after administration of elemental formula correlated with a higher density of mucosal eosinophils. CONCLUSION: Infant hematochezia, after cow's milk allergy exclusion, is generally a benign and probably self-limiting disorder despite marked mucosal abnor-mality. Formula feeding results in shorter time to cessa-tion of rectal bleeding; however, breast-feeding should not be discouraged in long-lasting hematochezia.

Cyclin Dlb Splice Variant Promotes αvβ3-mediated EMT Induced by LPS in Breast Cancer Cells

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition （EMT） plays a critical role in cancer metastasis, and is relevant to the inflammatory microenvironment. Lipopolysaccharide （LPS）, a cell wall constituent of gram-negative bacteria, has been reported to induce EMT of cancer cells through TLR4 signal. We previously reported that LPS promoted metastasis of mesenchymallike breast cancer cells with high expression of cyclin Dlb. However, the role of cyclin Dlb in LPS-induced EMT has not been fully elucidated. In the present study, we described that cyclin Dlb augmented EMT induced by LPS in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Cyclin Dlb markedly amplified integrin αvβ3 expression, which was further up-regulated under LPS stimulation. Our results showed ectopic expression of cyclin Dlb promoted invasiveness of epithelial-like MCF-7 cells under LPS stimulation. Additionally, LPS-induced metastasis and EMT in MCF- 7-Dlb cells might depend on αvβ3 expression. Further exploration indicated that cyclin Dlb cooperated with HoxD3, a transcription factor promoting αvβ3 expression, to promote LPS- induced EMT. Knockout of HoxD3 repressed LPS-induced EMT and αvβ3 over-expression in MCF-7 cells with high expression of cyclin Dlb. Specifically, all these effects were in a cyclin Dla independent manner. Taken all together, LPS up-regulated integrin αvβ3 expression in MCF-7 cells with high expression of cyclin D lb and induced EMT in breast cancer cells, which highlights that cyclin Dlb may act as an endogenous pathway participating in exogenous signal inducing EMT in breast cancer cells.

Effects on Cell Viability and on Apoptosis in Tumoral(MCF-7)and in Normal(MCF10A)Epithelial Breast Cells after Human Chorionic Gonadotropin and Derivated-Angiotensin Peptides Treatments

Angiotensin-(1 - 7) [Ang-(1 - 7)] is an endogenous heptapeptide hormone of the renin-angiotensin system that has antiproliferative properties. The aim of this work was to evaluate the anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic properties of Ang-(1 - 7) and of Ang-(1 - 7)-substituents 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc) e Ang II-derivatives containing the TOAC (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl-4-amino-4-carboxylic acid) in normal (MCF10A) and in tumoral (MCF7) epithelial mammary cell lines. Both cell lines received an hCG and angiotensin peptides 24-hour treatment, in combination or alone followed by cell viability, apoptosis and cell cycle assays performed by flow cytometer (GUAVA). After hCG, Ang-(1 - 7), hCG + Ang-(1 - 7) and hCG + Ang-(1 - 7)-Fmoc treatments, MCF7 displayed cell viability decrease and mid-apoptosis increase. We also observed cell viability decrease in MCF10A after Ang-(1 - 7), Ang-(1 - 7) Fmoc and hCG + AngII Toac treatments. These cells had an increase in late apoptosis and necrosis after AngII Toac, hCG + Ang-(1 - 7) and hCG + Ang-(1 - 7)-Fmoc treatments. Regarding the cell cycle analysis, we did not observed any changes in cell cycle phases. In summary, cell viability was decreased and apoptosis (initial, mid and late) was increased after hCG and/or Ang-(1 - 7) peptides treatments. These results point out hCG and Ang-(1 - 7) as effective compounds to inhibit cell proliferation, since they decrease cell viability and increase apoptosis in both normal and in tumoral breast cells, being the effect more pronounced in the tumoral cell line. Our results support the idea of investigating more closely the putative use of these compounds as novel therapeutic agents for breast cancer.

Lymphangiogenesis as a Prognostic Marker in Breast Cancer Using D2-40 as Lymphatic Endothelial Marker—A Preliminary Study

We studied tumour lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic invasion using D2-40 endothelial marker in 35 breast cancer patients treated by primary surgery and correlated it with various clinico-pathological prognostic parameters. Lymphangiogenesis was quantified using lymphatic micro vessel density (LMVD) by counting the immunostained lymphatic microvessels at 200X. The mean age was 45.97±12.09 years (range 30-80 years). LMVD ranged from 5/hpf to 56/hpf with a mean score of 13.4±10.8 and median of 9. The median value of 9 was taken to classify patients into a low or high LMVD. LMVD correlated significantly with tumour size (p=0.003), histological grade (p=0.046), lymph node status (p=0.030). There was no significant correlation of LMVD with stage, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor or HER2/neu immunoreactivity. Lymphovascular invasion on D2-40 staining [LVI-D40] was found in 13 (37.1%) cases compared to 6 cases (17.1%) on H & E staining showing a poor agreement (k=0.244). LVI correlated significantly with lymph node status (p=0.011). There was a strong association between tumour size (p=0.142), histological grade (p=0.066) though the correlation was not statistically significant. No correlation was found with stage, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor or HER2/neu immunoreactivity. The mean LMVD in LVI positive patients was higher (22.85±13.29) as compared to LVI negative patients (7.95±2.05) and this was statistically significant (p=0.001). Increased D2-40 detected LMVD and LVI correlated with poor prognostic parameters.