A Lactose-Binding Lectin from the Marine Sponge Cinachyrella Apion (Cal) Induces Cell Death in Human Cervical Adenocarcinoma Cells

Cancer represents a set of more than 100 diseases, including malignant tumors from different locations. Strategies inducing differentiation have had limited success in the treatment of established cancers. Marine sponges are a biological reservoir of bioactive molecules, especially lectins. Several animal and plant lectins were purified with antitumor activity, mitogenic, anti-inflammatory and antiviral, but there are few reports in the literature describing the mechanism of action of lectins purified from marine sponges to induce apoptosis in human tumor cells. In this work, a lectin purified from the marine sponge Cinachyrella apion (CaL) was evaluated with respect to its hemolytic, cytotoxic and antiproliferative properties, besides the ability to induce cell death in tumor cells. The antiproliferative activity of CaL was tested against HeLa, PC3 and 3T3 cell lines, with highest growth inhibition for HeLa, reducing cell growth at a dose dependent manner (0.5–10 µg/mL). Hemolytic activity and toxicity against peripheral blood cells were tested using the concentration of IC50 (10 µg/mL) for both trials and twice the IC50 for analysis in flow cytometry, indicating that CaL is not toxic to these cells. To assess the mechanism of cell death caused by CaL in HeLa cells, we performed flow cytometry and western blotting. Results showed that lectin probably induces cell death by apoptosis activation by pro-apoptotic protein Bax, promoting mitochondrial membrane permeabilization, cell cycle arrest in S phase and acting as both dependent and/or independent of caspases pathway. These results indicate the potential of CaL in studies of medicine for treating cancer

UPLC-MS-QTOF analysis and antifungal activity of Cumaru (Amburana cearensis).

This study was aimed at investigating the phytochemical constituents, antifungal properties and antibiotic-modifying activity of the aqueous crude extract and fractions of Amburana cearensis seeds (CEFAC). The CEFAC were chemically characterized by LC–MS/MS–QTOF. In addition, the antifungal activity was assayed by the microdilution method against strains of Candida albicans. The phytochemical profile of CEFAC exhibited phenolic compounds, organic acids, and polyphenols. The results of the assessment of antifungal activity reveled an IC(50) ranging from 45.6 to 2048 µg/mL. Interestingly, when CEFAC was associated with Fluconazole, we evidenced a decreased IC(50) (1.81–11.9 µg/mL), suggesting a synergism with antibiotic. It was possible to identify in the crude extract and fractions several phenolic compounds, organic acids, and some polyphenols in positive ionization mode. These results suggest that CEFAC may present compounds with the ability to interact and act synergistically with antimicrobial drugs, highlighting its potential as an alternative source for the development of new antimicrobial agents

Atualização na abordagem do tabagismo em pacientes com doenças respiratórias

O tabagismo é o maior responsável pelas doenças respiratórias (DR). Os efeitos nocivos do tabaco sobre o aparelho respiratório se iniciam ainda intraútero e influenciam as respostas imunológicas ao longo da infância e vida adulta. Os tabagistas com DR possuem peculiaridades que podem dificultar a cessação tabágica, tais como maior grau de dependência e de abstinência de nicotina; níveis mais elevados de monóxido de carbono exalado; motivação e autoeficácia baixas; maior preocupação com ganho ponderal; e elevada prevalência de ansiedade e depressão. Além disso, requerem tratamento mais intensivo e prolongado. É necessário esclarecer sempre o paciente sobre o fato de que parar de fumar será a única medida que irá reduzir a progressão das DR e melhorar sua qualidade de vida, independentemente do tempo e da gravidade da doença. Os médicos devem sempre oferecer o tratamento de cessação tabágica. O tratamento ambulatorial ou hospitalar deve ser multidisciplinar, baseado em intervenções comportamentais e farmacoterapia, sendo eficaz e custo-efetivo, dobrando as chances de sucesso.Smoking is the leading cause of respiratory disease (RD). The harmful effects of smoking on the respiratory system begin in utero and influence immune responses throughout childhood and adult life. In comparison with “healthy” smokers, smokers with RD have peculiarities that can impede smoking cessation, such as a higher level of nicotine dependence; nicotine withdrawal; higher levels of exhaled carbon monoxide; low motivation and low self-efficacy; greater concern about weight gain; and a high prevalence of anxiety and depression. In addition, they require more intensive, prolonged treatment. It is always necessary to educate such individuals about the fact that quitting smoking is the only measure that will reduce the progression of RD and improve their quality of life, regardless of the duration and severity of the disease. Physicians should always offer smoking cessation treatment. Outpatient or inpatient smoking cessation treatment should be multidisciplinary, based on behavioral interventions and pharmacotherapy. It will thus be more effective and cost-effective, doubling the chances of success

Update on the approach to smoking in patients with respiratory diseases.

Smoking is the leading cause of respiratory disease (RD). The harmful effects of smoking on the respiratory system begin in utero and influence immune responses throughout childhood and adult life. In comparison with ?healthy? smokers, smokers with RD have peculiarities that can impede smoking cessation, such as a higher level of nicotine dependence; nicotine withdrawal; higher levels of exhaled carbon monoxide; low motivation and low self-efficacy; greater concern about weight gain; and a high prevalence of anxiety and depression. In addition, they require more intensive, prolonged treatment. It is always necessary to educate such individuals about the fact that quitting smoking is the only measure that will reduce the progression of RD and improve their quality of life, regardless of the duration and severity of the disease. Physicians should always offer smoking cessation treatment. Outpatient or inpatient smoking cessation treatment should be multidisciplinary, based on behavioral interventions and pharmacotherapy. It will thus be more effective and cost-effective, doubling the chances of success

Multi-process and multi-scale spatial predictive analysis of an orogenic Archean gold system, Rio das Velhas Greenstone Belt, Brazil

There has always been a need for new methodologies and research to improve the decision-making process at the early stages of mineral exploration. This article presents a novel approach to integrating geodata in support of a mineral systems-based spatial analysis of orogenic gold deposits in the Rio das Velhas Greenstone Belt (RVGB), Quadrilkero Ferrffero Province, Brazil. The gold mineralization in the RVGB is spatially associated with thrust faults and shear zones and mainly hosted by iron-rich rocks such as mafic-ultramafic sequences and banded iron formations. To best represent the targeting elements of this mineral system spatially, a knowledge-based fuzzy logic method was employed to map the expressions of the gold depositional processes at the province (1:500,000), district (1:100,000) and camp (1:50,000) scales. At each scale, multivariate statistical techniques served to enhance multiple geological, geophysical, and geochemical datasets and extract from these data spatial proxies of the gold depositional processes. The results of this multi-scale predictive analysis were as follows: The first, province-scale model (M1) identified the entire gold prospective tract and the areas within it that may be of greatest relevance to future exploration. The second, district-scale model (M2) identified the different gold camps within the prospective tract and mapped the areas of gold favorability in a more detailed manner. The third, camp-scale model (M3) identified areas that, based on the current knowledge and distribution of high resolution geodata, are the most favorable whilst also being small enough as to permit target testing using conventional mineral exploration tools such as geophysics, geochemistry and/or drilling. The results obtained from our predictive models were validated by comparing them against the known gold occurrences using ROC (receiver operating characteristics) curves and AUC (area under the curve) graphs. According to these validations, model Ml scored an accuracy of 93.38%, whereas models M2 and M3 scored accuracies of 88.31% and 93.38%, respectively. A key observation made in the course of this study is that the gold prospective area as predicted by models M1, M2 and M3 varies according to the scale of the analysis. A novel factor in our approach is that we aimed assess the targeting criteria and spatial datasets that underpin them according to their spatial resolution and presented the results in form of integrated maps. In addition, the tools developed in this study have the capacity to reduce the cost of direct detection technologies regarding the transition from broad regional to camp scale at the early stages of mineral exploration, where the most initial decisions in search and area reduction are critical