Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Breast Cancer

EditorialRecent evidences demonstrated the importance of bone marrow derived Endothelial Progenitor Cells (EPC), in the contribution to postnatal physiological and pathological neovascularization, and in tumor growth and angiogenesis. These cells are recruited undifferentiated, in response to systemic or chemoatractive signals, such as Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), they lodge in the growing or lesioned tissue and differentiate into endothelial cells in response to local stimuli and cell-cell interactions. The extent and the significance of the EPCs contribution for the growing of most tumors, including those of the breast, are still not fully defined. We analyzed the peripheral blood of breast cancer patients and found that they have circulating EPCs. We also found an association between expression of AC133+Kdr+ and VEGF plasma levels in these patients. Strategies to impair the mobilization and incorporation of EPCs into breast tumors may contribute to halt the growth of these tumors

Progesterone in breast cancer angiogenesis

The involvement of steroid hormones in breast carcinogenesis is well established. Recent evidence suggests that angiogenesis can be regulated by hormones. Both oestrogen and progesterone have been implicated in the angiogenic process of hormone-dependent cancers, such as breast cancer. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is a growth factor involved in angiogenesis in breast cancer that is up-regulated by estrogens. In our study we evaluated the role of progesterone in the expression of this angiogenic growth factor commonly up-regulated in breast cancer. Our findings indicate that progesterone activates an angiogenic pathway involving VEGF stimulation. The elucidation of specific angiogenic pathways promoted by progesterone can raise new therapeutic targets at least in a subset of breast cancers responsive to progesterone

Estrogen catechols detection as biomarkers in schistosomiasis induced cancer and infertility

Urogenital schistosomiasis is a chronic infection caused by the human blood fluke Schistosoma haematobium. Schistosomiasis haematobium is a known risk factor for cancer leading to squamous cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder (SCC). This is a neglected tropical disease endemic in many countries of Africa and the Middle East. Schistosome eggs produce catechol-estrogens. These molecules are metabolized to active quinones that cause alterations in DNA (leading in other contexts to breast or thyroid cancer). Our group have shown that schistosome egg associated catechol estrogens induce tumor-like phenotypes in urothelial cells, originated from parasite estrogen-host cell chromosomal DNA adducts and mutations. Here we review recent findings on the role of estrogen-DNA adducts and how their shedding in urine may be prognostic of schistosome infection and/or represent potential biomarkers for urogenital schistosomiasis associated bladder cancer and infertility.This work was financed by FEDER - Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional funds through the COMPETE 2020 - Operacional Programme for Competitiveness and Internationalisation (POCI), Portugal 2020, and by Portuguese funds through FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia/ Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação in the framework of the project "Institute for Research and Innovation in Health Sciences" (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007274).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Bladder cancer and urinary Schistosomiasis in Angola

J Nephrol Res. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2015 Jul 9. Disponível em: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4497783/Schistosomiasis haematobia is among the most prevalent parasitosis in Angola. The pathology is characterized by serious and irreversible lesions in the urogenital tract induced by chronic infection with the parasite that can eventually lead to squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder. Considering the frequency and severe morbidity observed, even in younger ages, the purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and morbidity of S. haematobium infection in Angola. A baseline survey was conducted between November 2007 and February 2008. A randomly sample of 300 inhabitants aged 15 to 75 years old participated in this study. Prevalence of S. haematobium infection was 71.7 % (215/300). Infection was higher in females (56.3 %) but no significant difference was found in prevalence and intensity between gender and age groups. The predominant selfreported symptoms were dysuria (91.2 %), hypogastralgia (88.7 %) and haematuria (87.1%) and these symptoms were strongly associated with S. haematobium infection (p<0.05). Ultrasound and cystoscopy examinations performed in a sub-sample of 29 individuals revealed pathological conditions at the urinary tract in all examined. Considering the high prevalence of S. haematobium infections in Angola and schistosomiasis-associated bladder cancer, our results indicate that this population should be targeted for follow up and implementation of measures for treatment and control of schistosomiasis

Polifenóis e tocoferóis em azeites monovarietais

Comunicação apresentada no III Simpósio Nacional de Olivicultura que decorreu em Castelo Branco, na Escola Superior Agrária do Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco, de 29 a 31 de Outubro de 2003.Este trabalho tem por objectivo o estudo dos polifenóis totais, orto-difenóis e tocoferóis nos azeites monovarietais mais representativos da parte sul do distrito de Castelo Branco: ‘Galega’, ‘Bical’ e ‘Cordovil’. O estudo incidiu em azeites extraídos em sistema Oliomio 50, provenientes de árvores das três cultivares localizadas nos concelhos de Idanha-a-Nova, Castelo Branco e Vila Velha de Ródão. Os resultados revelam que os azeites ‘Bical’ e ‘Cordovil’ apresentam os valores médios mais altos de polifenóis totais bem como de orto-difenóis. Os azeites ‘Galega’ e ‘Bical’ apresentaram teores médios de a-tocoferol muito semelhantes e mais elevados relativamente aos valores médios dos azeites ‘Cordovil’

Into the depths of deep eutectic solvents

Ionic liquids (ILs) have been successfully tested in a wide range of applications; however, their high price and complicated synthesis make them infeasible for large scale implementation. A decade ago, a new generation of solvents so called deep eutectic solvents (DESs) was reported for the first time. DESs show similar properties to ILs and they have proven to be an excellent alternative to ILs in many applications where ILs succeeded first. Besides, DESs can be prepared easily and cheaply, with low-cost starting materials, no need of solvents, no atom loss during the formation and no additional purification requirements. The main problem that scientist are facing when they want to use DESs in different applications is the lack of information on the fundamentals of these solvents. Why do they form? How do they form? How do the hydrogen bond donor (HBD) and the hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) interact? How do DESs interact with other compounds? Can we predict their thermophysical properties? The answer to these questions will provide to researches new insights on the application of these solvents, solving the problem of trial-and-error experimentation. In this work, we present a detailed analysis of molecular interactions and conformational states of two selected DESs: lactic acid – choline chloride (2:1) and glycolic acid – choline chloride (1:1), using density functional theory (DFT) and second-order Møller¿Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) with various basis sets. Theoretical calculations were performed using the GAUSSIAN 03 software package. The obtained results are used to evaluate the nature of interactions between the HBD and HBA and their structural features. Additionally, it will contribute to the better understanding of how DESs are formed

Olive oil from organic agriculture and integrated production – quality parameters evaluation

Os olivais da Beira Baixa têm mostrado aptidão para evoluir para sistemas de agricultura sustentável, capazes de valorizar o ecossistema agrário, a sua biodiversidade, os seus produtos e o rendimento dos olivicultores, de que são exemplo os olivais em modo de produção biológico e em produção integrada. Neste trabalho efectuou-se o acompanhamento de olivais em modo de produção biológico e produção integrada, situados na Beira Baixa. A análise química das características dos azeites da cultivar Galega vulgar não revelou diferenças importantes entre os dois modos de produção, classificando-os na categoria “Azeite virgem extra”. Os resultados preliminares de um primeiro ano de ensaio revelaram que em ambos os sistemas de produção se obtiveram azeites com elevados padrões de qualidade

Olive ripening and harvest time in portuguese cultivars of “Beira Interior“ region

Portuguese growers of “Beira Interior”, an inland region in the centre of Portugal, start harvesting olives only in late November or December and finish in January and sometimes February. Studies on olive ripening carried out in different groves showed that, in general, oil content (% d.w.) stabilises during November and ripening index rises regularly throughout the sampling period. However, there were some differences among cultivars. The results suggest that harvest can begin from mid- -October to the 1st fortnight of November, according to location, for ‘Galega’, in the 1st fortnight of December for ‘Bical’, in the 1st fortnight of November for ‘Carrasquinha‘ and in the 2nd fortnight of November for ‘Cornicabra’, therefore harvest time should begin long before the traditional time.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Oil content of three olive cultivars (Olea europaea L.) in Beira Baixa (Portugal)

The three main cultivars of Olea europaea L. at Beira Baixa are Galega vulgar, Bical and Cordovil de Castelo Branco. Humidity and oil content, by NMR, for the monovariety olive pastes were studied for two years, 1998/99 and 1999/2000.The results showed that Galega vulgar had significantly lower oil content when compared with Bical and Cordovil de Castelo Branco; but Bical and Cordovil de Castelo Branco did not differ significantly from each other concerning this parameter.The humidity values observed for the three cultivars are significantly different: Cordovil presents similar values during the three harvests while Galega vulgar and Bical showed their maximum values at the second harvest.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Composição esterólica e em ácidos gordos de azeites monovarietais provenientes das regiões de Elvas, Castelo Branco e Santarém

Comunicação apresentada no III Simpósio Nacional de Olivicultura que decorreu em Castelo Branco, na Escola Superior Agrária do Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco, de 29 a 31 de Outubro de 2003.Neste trabalho apresenta-se um estudo efectuado em cinco azeites monovarietais (Olea europaea ‘Cordovil De Castelo Branco’, ‘Cobrançosa’, ‘Conserva De Elvas’, ‘Galega Vulgar’ e ‘Picual’). O estudo reporta-se a três campanhas consecutivas (2000/03) e o material experimental provém de olivais situados em três regiões portuguesas, nomeadamente Elvas, Castelo Branco e Santarém. Os azeites foram extraídos em equipamento Oliomio e as análises foram: ácidos gordos, esteróis e álcoois triterpénicos (eritrodiol + uvaol). Dos resultados obtidos, o azeite ‘Cordovil De Castelo Branco’ destaca-se pelos seus teores elevados em eritrodiol + uvaol nas três regiões em estudo. Por seu turno, o teor de ácido oleico do azeite ‘Galega Vulgar’ permite distinguir cada uma das regiões, enquanto no azeite ‘Cobrançosa’ o teor em esteróis totais distingue as três regiões