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AIM To evaluate the technical application of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) as a support to classical cytogenetic in numerical chromosomal aneuploidies studies in samples of amniotic fluid, chorionic villus, and fetal loss. MATERIALS AND METHODS The authois performed cytogenetic analyses in 1,409 patients (678 amniocentesis, 512 chorionic villus samples, and 219 spontaneous abortions) during one year. FISH molecular study aided traditional cytogenetic in 90 cases. These cases were indicated based on the diagnostic hypothesis of each patient or when no cellular growth was obtained. The authors standardized the FISH in discoloured slides. RESULTS They had 85% positive FISH in amniotic fluid, 70% in chorionic villus, and 90% in abortion material using 13, 18, 21 X and Y centromeric probes. It showed 12% of altered FISH in amniotic fluid (100% trisomies), 10% in chorionic'villus (50% trisomy and 50% X - monosomy), and 22% in abortion material (50% trisomy, 25% X-monosomy, and 25% triploidy). FISH and cytogenetic analysis confirmed the results. CONCLUSION This technique revolutionized clinical and research applications of cytogenetics. In this particular paper, FISH was a valuable and reliable technique to promptly identify rapid detection of aneuploidies in interphase cells, metaphase spread and paraffin-embedded samples. It is hoped that, in the future, the economic viability of array CGH and FISH, with the decreasing cost of testing and their genomics advantages can be incorporated as routine and customized in the approach of prenatal diagnosis.

One prototype of a linear reciprocating thermomagnetic motor designed to work with hot water obtained from plane solar collectors as a hot source and water at room temperature as cold source has been under development. In this motor, the force element is composed of an arrangement of permanent magnets and by two plates of magnetic material having a Curie temperature midway between the temperatures of the hot and cold sources. The magnetic material plates work as motor's heat exchangers, and are shaped in form of parallelepipedal plates with internal channels. As the power to be obtained from the motor is a direct function of its operating frequency or velocity, it is important to have an optimized design of the heat exchanger channels. We report in this work the optimization procedures performed using CFD software (Computational Fluid Dynamics) aiming to maximize the heat exchangers transfer rate. The mentioned linear reciprocating motor that has been under development is not reported here. It will be presented in another work for convenience.

Objective To investigate the association between the CYP17α gene polymorphism and hot flushes in postmenopausal women.Methods Ninety-three non-hysterectomized, postmenopausal women were enrolled in this study. Vasomotor symptoms were assessed at the baseline visit and based on information provided by each participant. The genotypic polymorphism of CYP17α gene was analyzed by PCR-RFLP assay using genomic DNA isolated from peripheral blood lymphocytes.Results Thirty-six women reported hot flushes of mild intensity, 25 reported hot flushes of moderate intensity and 32 of severe intensity. There was no significant difference between the severity of hot flushes and the CYP17 genotype or allele frequencies, 0.58 and 0.67 respectively. No association was found between hot flush severity and the CYP17 allele (odds ratio = 1.17, p = 0.61).Conclusion The results of this study suggest that the CYP17 MspAI polymorphism was not significantly associated with an increased risk of reporting hot flushes.At the World Congr...

The progesterone receptor gene (PROGINS) has been identified as a risk modifier for benign and malignant gynecological diseases. The present case-control study is to evaluate the role of the PROGINS polymorphisms, as risk factor, for endometrial cancer development and to investigate the association between these genetics variants and clinical/pathologic variables of endometrial cancer. PROGINS polymorphism was examined in a total of 121 patients with endometrial cancer and 282 population-based control subjects, all located at the same area in São Paulo, SP, Brazil. The genotyping of PROGINS polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction. The frequencies of PROGINS polymorphism T1/T1, T1/T2, and T2/T2 were 82.6%, 14.9%, and 2.5% in the endometrial cancer patients and 78.4%, 21.6%, and 0% in the controls, respectively. The χ2 test showed a higher incidence of the T2/T2 genotype in the endometrial cancer group subjects, these results were statistically different (P= 0.012). However, due to the fact that there were no women in the control group showing homozygosis for the allele T2, the correct evaluation of odds ratio could not be properly calculated. Regarding the clinical and pathologic findings observed within the group of patients with endometrial cancer, there was significant correlation between T1/T2 genotype and the presence of myoma (P= 0.048). No correlations were observed among the other variables. These data suggest that the PROGINS polymorphism T2/T2 genotype might be associated with an increased risk of endometrial cancer.

Introduction preeclampsia is characterized by intense inflammatory response and an anti-angiogenic state. Maternal obesity has been considered to have important impact on the genesis of preeclampsia as lipotoxicity leads to maternal endothelial dysfunction and chronic inflammation. Here we investigate the plasma lipid profile of preeclamptic women. Objectives identify possible lipid biomarkers for preeclampsia. Methods this study included 8 pregnant women with early-onset preeclampsia (before 34 weeks gestation) and 8 normal pregnant women. Each patient in the preeclampsia group was matched to a patient in the control group according to gestational age at the time of sample collection. All patients in the control group were followed until term and had normal outcomes. To investigate the lipid profile, lipids were extracted from plasma samples using the Bligh-Dyer protocol and the extracts were subjected to MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry. Data matrix was exported for partial least squares discriminant analysis. All the variables analysed were sorted by a score number named Variable Importance in the Projection. The major discriminant variables were selected and underwent to Mann–Whitney U test. Results a total of 1290 ions were initially identified during lipidomic assessment. Twelve m/z signals were highlighted as the most important lipids for the discrimination of patients with preeclampsia. The identification of these differential lipids was carried out through Lipid Database Search. The main classes identified were Glycerophosphocholines [GP01], Glycerophosphoserines [GP03], Glycerophosphoglycerols [GP04], Glycosyldiradylglycerols [GL05] and Glycerophosphates [GP10]. Conclusion Our results suggest that some lipid species may be potential biomarkers for early-onset preeclampsia.