Premature birth and COVID-19: an integrative review/ Nascimento prematuro e COVID-19: uma revisão integrativa

OBJECTIVE: To review the current scientific evidence of premature birth related to coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).METHODS: An integrative review was carried out by three independent researchers, based on the literature available in the MEDLINE (via PubMed) and LILACS databases, using the descriptors "coronavirus infections" and "premature birth". This research included case reports or case series published until 26th February 2021, in English or Portuguese. After reading the articles in their entirety, those specifically related to premature birth in pregnant women positive for Covid-19 were selected. Initially, a total of 21 articles were found, 19 were analyzed in full-text and 13 were finally selected for this study. RESULTS: The rate of prematurity was not reflected at the expense of spontaneous premature birth, since these were relatively low, with a cesarean section percentage higher than 80%. Most reports describe the termination of pregnancy by cesarean section due to maternal-fetal hemodynamic instability. It is known that Covid-19 can cause serious maternal or perinatal outcomes; however, it is suggested that the indication of the delivery route be individualized and the importance of quality prenatal care is emphasized.CONCLUSION: Covid-19 prematurity seems to be elevated by the increased number of preterm births due to cesarean sections possibly to improve maternal and neonatal clinical status. However, more studies are needed to prove the hypothesis of spontaneous premature labor caused directly by SARS-CoV-2

Coumarin Derivatives Exert Anti-Lung Cancer Activity by Inhibition of Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition and Migration in A549 Cells

International audienceA series of coumarin derivatives and isosteres were synthesized from the reaction of triflic intermediates with phenylboronic acids, terminal alkynes, and organozinc compounds through palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions. The in vitro cytotoxic effect of the compounds was evaluated against two non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) cell lines (A-549 and H2170) and a normal cell line (NIH-3T3) using cisplatin as a reference drug. Additionally, the effects of the most promising coumarin derivative (9f) in reversing the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in IL-1β-stimulated A549 cells and in inhibiting the EMT-associated migratory ability in A549 cells were also evaluated. 9f had the greatest cytotoxic effect (CC50 = 7.1 ± 0.8 and 3.3 ± 0.5 μM, respectively against A549 and H2170 cells) and CC50 value of 25.8 µM for NIH-3T3 cells. 9f inhibited the IL-1β-induced EMT in epithelial cells by inhibiting the F-actin reorganization, attenuating changes in the actin cytoskeleton reorganization, and downregulating vimentin in A549 cells stimulated by IL-1β. Treatment of A549 cells with 9f at 7 µM for 24 h significantly reduced the migration of IL-1β-stimulated cells, which is a phenomenon confirmed by qualitative assessment of the wound closure. Taken together, our findings suggest that coumarin derivatives, especially compound 9f, may become a promising candidate for lung cancer therapy, especially in lung cancer promoted by NSCLC cell lines