São Paulo medical journal = Revista paulista de medicina
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Persistent infection with high risk human papillomavirus (HPV) has been linked to cervical carcinoma. Integration of viral DNA into host cell DNA is essential for this cancer development, promoting disruption of the HPV E2 gene, thus leading to unregulated increases in E6 and E7 proteins and inactivating the products of p53 and Rb tumor suppressor genes. ⋯ The sample had a high rate of high-risk HPV detected in benign and malignant lesions; high cervical cancer burden; HPV 16 DNA integration in all except one case of cancer; p53 gene changes in CIN III and in invasive cancer cases associated with DNA integration.
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Epidemiological studies of the validity and reliability of self-reported information on important risk factors for non-communicable chronic diseases are scarce in Brazil. ⋯ The reproducibility of information on smoking, drinking, and dietary patterns ranged from substantial to excellent, as investigated in the Pró-Saúde Study, a longitudinal investigation recently launched in Rio de Janeiro.
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The p16 tumor suppressor gene encodes a cyclin-dependent kinase 4 inhibitor that blocks cell division during the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Alterations in this gene have been reported for various neoplasia types, including acute lymphoblastic leukemias (ALL), especially T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias (ALL). ⋯ Our results, particularly regarding deletion frequency, agree with others suggesting that deletions in the p16 are initial events in leukemia genesis. The small number of samples did not allow establishment of correlation between childhood ALL and the p16 point mutations found in our study. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed no significant correlation between EFS and alterations in ALL. The p16 alterations frequency observed for B and T-ALL agreed with reports from other centers.
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The speech rate is one of the parameters considered when investigating speech fluency and is an important variable in the assessment of individuals with communication complaints. ⋯ Objective tests that quantify diseases are important in their diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.
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Some epidemiological studies on blood pressure among children and adolescents have revealed that blood pressure levels in childhood are the strongest predictors of adult blood pressure levels. In the adult population, hypertension causes a two to threefold increase in an individual's risk of cardiovascular morbidity. ⋯ Therefore, accuracy in determining blood pressure is essential and a standardized protocol should be considered for blood pressure measurement, which would make the comparison of results obtained by different studies in different countries possible. This article reviews the main determinants of accuracy for casual and ambulatory blood pressure measurements in children.