Zebrafish Avatar-test forecasts clinical response to chemotherapy in patients with colorectal cancer.

Cancer patients often undergo rounds of trial-and-error to find the most effective treatment because there is no test in the clinical practice for predicting therapy response. Here, we conduct a clinical study to validate the zebrafish patient-derived xenograft model (zAvatar) as a fast predictive platform for personalized treatment in colorectal cancer. zAvatars are generated with patient tumor cells, treated exactly with the same therapy as their corresponding patient and analyzed at single-cell resolution. By individually comparing the clinical responses of 55 patients with their zAvatar-test, we develop a decision tree model integrating tumor stage, zAvatar-apoptosis, and zAvatar-metastatic potential. This model accurately forecasts patient progression with 91% accuracy. Importantly, patients with a sensitive zAvatar-test exhibit longer progression-free survival compared to those with a resistant test. We propose the zAvatar-test as a rapid approach to guide clinical decisions, optimizing treatment options and improving the survival of cancer patients.

"I can't provide what my child needs": Early feeding experiences of caregivers of children with craniofacial microsomia.

PURPOSE: Craniofacial microsomia (CFM) is a congenital condition that can be associated with feeding challenges in infants. As part of the larger 'Craniofacial microsomia: Accelerating Research and Education (CARE)' program, this study described caregivers' early feeding experiences. DESIGN AND MATERIALS: US-based caregivers of 34 children with CFM participated in remote narrative interviews. Two authors completed inductive thematic analysis in an iterative process until consensus was reached. RESULTS: Caregivers' narratives outlined the inherent challenges of feeding an infant with special healthcare needs. The first theme 'Navigating Challenges and Managing Expectations' describes the distress participants experienced when they were unable to breastfeed and the negative emotional effect of switching to formula. The second theme 'Making Adaptations' outlines the methods participants tried, including breast pumps and feeding tubes. The third theme 'Accessing Support' describes participants' interactions with healthcare providers and challenges accessing feeding support. The final theme 'Growing from Adversity' recounts participants' relief once their child established a feeding pattern and the personal growth gained from their experiences. CONCLUSIONS: Caregivers reported several feeding related challenges associated with CFM, many of which negatively affected their wellbeing. Negative consequences were particularly pronounced in cases where caregivers' feeding experiences differed from their expectations. Participants identified challenges in accessing reliable feeding information and support. Despite difficult experiences, caregivers cited some positive outcomes, including increased confidence and resilience. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Holistic feeding information and support for families affected by CFM should be inclusive of several feeding methods to improve care delivery, child health, and the caregiver experience.

Early Experiences of Parents of Children With Craniofacial Microsomia.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the early health care experiences of parents of children with craniofacial microsomia (CFM), a congenital diagnosis often identified at birth. DESIGN: Qualitative descriptive. SETTING: Homes of participants. PARTICIPANTS: Parents of 28 children with CFM from across the United States. METHODS: We interviewed participants (27 mothers individually and one mother and father together) via telephone or teleconference and used reflexive thematic analysis to derive themes that represented early health care experiences of parents of children with CFM. RESULTS: Participants' narratives included detailed recounting of their birth and early care experiences. We identified two overarching themes. The first overarching theme, Stressors, included four subthemes that represented difficulties related to emotional reactions and negative experiences with health care providers. The second overarching theme, Finding Strength, included four subthemes that represented participants' positive adjustment to stressors through independent information seeking about CFM, adaptive coping, positive experiences with health care providers, and drawing on external supports. CONCLUSION: Participants often described early experiences as challenging. Findings have implications for improving early care, including increasing open and supportive communication by health care professionals, expanding access to CFM information, screening for mental health concerns among parents, strengthening coping among parents, and linking families to resources such as reliable online CFM information and early intervention programs.

Food and nutrition public establishments: assessment of the food environment / Equipamentos públicos de segurança alimentar e nutricional: avaliação do ambiente alimentar

Abstract This article aims to assess the community food environment around areas with and without Food and Nutrition Public Establishments (FNPE). Cross-sectional study carried out in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The unit of analysis was the buffer (500m) around the FNPE and the census tracts without FNPE. The investigated establishments should market food for consumption at home and be located within the buffer of the areas with and without FNPE. Data collection performed by direct observation (active search) in August to October 2019. Data collected were location and type of commercial establishments, the density of the establishments was calculated. Descriptive analysis, spatial distribution (Kernel estimator) and Nearest Neighbor analysis were performed. Of the evaluated establishments, 60.5% were in the areas without FNPE and 39.6% in the areas with FNPE, showing a random distribution pattern. Of these, 24.2% were convenience stores and bakeries, 21.0% butcher stores, and 19.0% street markets. Seven FNPE were close to commercial establishments. There were fewer establishments around the FNPE, with convenience stores and bakeries predominating.

Resumo O objetivo deste artigo é avaliar o ambiente alimentar comunitário de áreas com e sem estabelecimentos públicos de segurança alimentar e nutricional (EPSAN). Estudo transversal realizado em Belo Horizonte, Brasil. Unidade de análise foi o buffer (500m) no entorno dos EPSAN e dos setores censitários sem EPSAN. Os estabelecimentos investigados deveriam comercializar alimentos para consumo no domicílio e localizar-se dentro do buffer das áreas com e sem EPSAN. Coleta de dados realizada por observação direta (busca ativa) de agosto a outubro de 2019. Os dados coletados foram localização e tipo dos estabelecimentos comerciais, e também foi calculada a densidade dos estabelecimentos. Foram feitas análise descritiva, distribuição espacial (estimador de Kernel) e análise do vizinho mais próximo. Dos estabelecimentos avaliados, 60,5% estavam nas áreas sem EPSAN, e 39,6% nas áreas com EPSAN, apresentando padrão de distribuição aleatório. Desses, 24,2% eram lojas de conveniência e padarias, 21,0% açougues e 19,0% feiras-livres. Sete EPSAN encontravam-se próximos aos estabelecimentos comerciais. Havia menor número de estabelecimentos no entorno dos EPSAN, com predominância de lojas de conveniência e padaria.

Neurological syndromes and potential triggers associated with antibodies to neuronal surface antigens.

BACKGROUND: Autoantibodies against surface neuronal antigens have been associated with specific neurological presentations including autoimmune encephalitis (AE), with variable association with neoplasia and infections. METHODS: We described the phenotype and environmental associations of patients with neurological syndromes associated with antibodies against neuronal surface antigens who were referred to a tertiary center in the South of Brazil. All patients were tested for neuronal autoantibodies using cell-based assays. Clinical, radiological, and laboratory findings were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: We identified 16 patients, 15 had subacute, and one had a progressive disease course. Among patients with subacute onset, 11 (73 %) were N-Methyl-d-Aspartate receptor (NMDAr-IgG)+, 3 (20 %) were Leucine-rich Glioma-Inactivated-1 (LGI1-IgG)+, and 1 (6 %) was positive for Glycine receptor-IgG. The patient with a progressive disease course had antibodies against IgLON5. Most patients had disease onset in spring and summer suggesting environmental factors for the development of AE. Also, we observed a different pattern of brain lesions when NMDAr-IgG encephalitis followed herpes encephalitis and a previously unreported association with Rosai-Dorfman-Destombe disease. All patients with encephalopathy met criteria for possible AE and all proven NMDAr-IgG+ met criteria for NMDAr-IgG encephalitis. However, only one LGI1-IgG+ patient fulfilled clinical criteria for limbic encephalitis. All but one received high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone, 11 also had intravenous human immunoglobulin, and 4 plasma exchange. Furthermore, all patients received second-line immunotherapy. Importantly, most patients improved with immunotherapy, even when initiated later in the disease course. CONCLUSION: We identified seasonal variability associated with neuronal surface antibodies suggesting environmental triggers. Also, we described the coexistence of NMDAr-IgG encephalitis with histiocytosis. In our series, most patients received second-line immunotherapy. We observed neurologic improvement after treatment even in cases of delayed diagnosis. Increasing the recognition and availability of tests and treatments for these conditions is of paramount importance in low- and middle-income countries.

A novel pathogenic CRB1 variant presenting as Leber Congenital Amaurosis 8 and evaluation of gene editing feasibility.

INTRODUCTION: Leber Congenital Amaurosis (LCA) is an inherited retinal disease that presents in infancy with severely decreased vision, nystagmus, and extinguished electroretinography findings. LCA8 is linked to variants in the Crumbs homolog 1 (CRB1) gene. CASE DESCRIPTION: We report a novel CRB1 variant in a 14-year-old male presenting with nystagmus, worsening vision, and inability to fixate on toys in his infancy. Color fundus photography revealed nummular pigments in the macula and periphery. Imaging studies revealed thickened retina on standard domain optical coherence tomography and widespread atrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium on autofluorescence. Full-field electroretinography revealed extinguished scotopic and significantly reduced photopic responses. Genetic testing demonstrated a novel homozygous variant, c.3057 T > A; p.(Tyr1019Ter), in the CRB1 gene. This variant is not currently amenable to base editing, however, in silico analysis revealed several potential prime editing strategies for correction. CONCLUSION: This case presentation is consistent with LCA8, suggesting pathogenicity of this novel variant and expanding our knowledge of disease-causing CRB1 variants.

Generation of an Avian Myeloblastosis Virus (AMV) Reverse Transcriptase Prime Editor.

Prime editing (PE) is a novel, double-strand break (DSB)-independent gene editing technology that represents an exciting avenue for the treatment of inherited retinal diseases (IRDs). Given the extensive and heterogenous nature of the 280 genes associated with IRDs, genome editing has presented countless complications. However, recent advances in genome editing technologies have identified PE to have tremendous potential, with the capability to ameliorate small deletions and insertions in addition to all twelve possible transition and transversion mutations. The current PE system is based on the fusion of the Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 (SpCas9) nickase H840A mutant and an optimized Moloney murine leukemia virus (MMLV) reverse-transcriptase (RT) in conjunction with a PE guide RNA (pegRNA). In this study, we developed a prime editor based on the avian myeloblastosis virus (AMV)-RT and showed its applicability for the installation of the PRPH2 c.828+1G>A mutation in HEK293 cells.

TRAP1 Is Expressed in Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells and Is Required to Maintain their Energetic Status.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of severe vision loss and blindness in elderly people worldwide. The damage to the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) triggered by oxidative stress plays a central role in the onset and progression of AMD and results from the excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced mainly by mitochondria. Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated protein 1 (TRAP1) is a mitochondrial molecular chaperone that contributes to the maintenance of mitochondrial integrity by decreasing the production and accumulation of ROS. The present study aimed to evaluate the presence and the role of TRAP1 in the RPE. Here, we report that TRAP1 is expressed in human adult retinal pigment epithelial cells and is located mainly in the mitochondria. Exposure of RPE cells to hydrogen peroxide decreases the levels of TRAP1. Furthermore, TRAP1 silencing increases intracellular ROS production and decreases mitochondrial respiratory capacity without affecting cell proliferation. Together, these findings offer novel insights into TRAP1 functions in RPE cells, opening possibilities to develop new treatment options for AMD.

Effect of Resistance Exercise Order on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Older Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

We compared the effects of two specific resistance training (RT) exercise orders on cardiovascular risk factors. Forty-four untrained older women (>60 years) were randomly assigned to three groups: control (CON, n = 15), multi-joint to single-joint (MJ-SJ, n = 14), and single-joint to multi-joint (SJ-MJ, n = 15) exercise orders. Training groups performed a whole-body RT program (eight exercises, 3 × 10−15 repetitions for each exercise) over 12 weeks in 3 days/week. Body fat, triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL-c, LDL-c, VLDL-c, glucose, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, C-reactive protein, total radical-trapping antioxidant (TRAP), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), ferrous oxidation-xylenol (FOX), and nitric oxide concentrations (NOx) were determined pre- and post-intervention. Significant interaction group × time (p < 0.05) revealed reducing fat mass and trunk fat and improvements in glucose, LDL-c, IL-10, TNF-α, C-reactive protein, FOX, and AOPP concentrations in both training groups, without differences between them (p > 0.05). The results suggest that 12 weeks of RT, regardless of exercise order, elicit positive adaptations on body fat and metabolic biomarkers similarly in older women.

Isolation, Uncertainty and Treatment Delays: Parents' Experiences of Having a Baby with Cleft Lip/Palate During the Covid-19 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVES: Previous literature finds that having a child with a cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) may pose social and emotional challenges for parents. For parents of children born during the Covid-19 pandemic, such challenges may be heightened. Further, novel demands brought about by the pandemic could have caused additional hardships. The aim of this study was to describe the impact of the pandemic on new parents through qualitative exploration of their experiences. DESIGN: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 parents of children born in the United Kingdom with CL/P between January and June 2020, around the start of the pandemic. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Three themes, with sub-themes, were identified. The first theme, "Changes to Healthcare: The Impact of Restrictions and Reduced Contact", discussed the impact of the pandemic on perinatal care, the care received from the specialist CL/P teams, and parents' experiences of virtual consultations. The second theme, "Family Functioning During the Pandemic", covered parental anxiety, fathers' experiences, and social support. The third theme, "Surgical Prioritisation: Delays and Uncertainty", addressed changes to surgical protocols, coping with uncertainty, complications associated with delayed surgery, and how parents created positive meaning from this period. CONCLUSIONS: A range of increased and additional psychosocial impacts for parents were identified, along with several coping strategies, utilization of social support, and the positive aspects of their experiences. As the pandemic continues, close monitoring of families affected by CL/P remains imperative, particularly for those at risk of emotional distress.

Psychosocial and Health-Related Experiences of Individuals With Microtia and Craniofacial Microsomia and Their Families: Narrative Review Over 2 Decades.

This paper describes 20 years of microtia and craniofacial microsomia (CFM) psychosocial and healthcare studies and suggests directions for clinical care and research.A narrative review of papers January 2000 to July 2021 related to psychosocial and healthcare experiences of individuals with microtia and CFM and their families.Studies (N = 64) were mainly cross-sectional (69%), included a range of standardized measures (64%), and were with European (31%), American (27%), or multinational (23%) samples. Data were generally collected from both patients and caregivers (38%) or patient self-report (35%). Sample sizes were 11 to 25 (21%), 26 to 50 (19%), 51 to 100 (22%), or over 100 (38%). Studies addressed 5 primary topics: (1) Healthcare Experiences, including Medical Care, Hearing Loss/Amplification, Diagnostic Experiences, and Information Preferences; (2) Psychosocial Experiences, including Teasing, Behavioral Adjustment, Psychosocial Support, and Public Perception; (3) Neurocognitive Functioning and Academic Assistance; (4) Pre- and Post-Operative Psychosocial Outcomes of Ear Reconstruction/Canaloplasty; and (5) Quality of Life and Patient Satisfaction.Care involved multiple specialties and was often experienced as stressful starting at diagnosis. Psychosocial and neurocognitive functioning were generally in the average range, with possible risk for social and language concerns. Coping and resiliency were described into adulthood. Satisfaction and positive benefit of ear reconstruction/canaloplasty were high. Care recommendations include increasing: hearing amplification use, microtia and CFM knowledge among providers, efficient treatment coordination, psychosocial support, academic assistance, and advances to minimize surgical scarring. This broad literature overview informs clinical practice and research to improve psychosocial outcomes.

Generation of Human iPSC-Derived Retinal Organoids for Assessment of AAV-Mediated Gene Delivery.

Human retinal organoids derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) serve as a promising preclinical model for testing the safety and efficacy of viral gene therapy. Retinal organoids recapitulate the stratified multilayered epithelium structure of the developing and maturating human retina. As such, retinal organoids are unique tools to model retinal disease and to test therapeutic interventions toward their amelioration. Here, we describe a method for the generation of human iPSC-derived retinal organoids and how they can be utilized for the assessment of recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV)-mediated gene delivery.

Coumaric acid from M. polymorphum extracts reverses the activated state of hepatic stellate cells (GRX) and inhibits their proliferation by decreasing the p53/p21 pathway.

Coumaric acid is a phenolic compound found in medicinal plants. Its use has been reported in the treatment of inflammatory diseases, prevention of alterations induced by oxidative stress, as well as acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity. Thus, this study evaluated coumaric acid as a potential treatment for liver fibrosis. Cell proliferation was assessed by the trypan blue exclusion technique and the cytotoxicity of coumaric acid was performed using an LDH assay. Mechanisms of cell apoptosis were evaluated by flow cytometry. The expression of genes associated with apoptosis, cell cycle control, and fibrosis was assessed by qPCR. The production of lipid droplets was quantified by oil red staining. The experiments performed showed that the treatment with coumaric acid was able to reduce cell proliferation without causing cell cytotoxicity or apoptosis. Coumaric acid was able to inhibit the expression of cyclin D1 and CDK's (CDK2, CDK4, and CDK6), increasing p53 and p21, which could lead to cell cycle arrest. Treatment with coumaric acid was also able to revert the activated phenotype of GRX cells to their quiescent state. Thus, our results suggest that coumaric acid has a potential therapeutic effect against liver fibrosis.

Crohn's disease and clinical management today: How it does?

Crohn's Disease (CD) is an Inflammatory Bowel Disease and is characterized by an immune-mediated nature. Its etiology results from the interaction between genetic, enviromental and microbial factors. Regarding pathophysiology, it involves high levels of interleukin (IL)-12, IL-17, and Th1 profile, along with loss of tolerance mechanisms, an increase in pro-inflammatory interleukins, beyond the possibility to affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract. Its symptoms include abdominal pain, chronic diarrhea, weight loss, anorexia, and fatigue, as well as blood in the stool or rectum. Additionally, conditions comprising musculoskeletal, cutaneous, ocular, hepatic, and hematological alterations may be associated with this scenario and extra-intestinal presentation, such as erythema nodosum, anterior uveitis, osteoporosis, and arthritis can also occur. Today, clinical history, exams as fecal calprotectin, ileocolonocopy, and capsule endoscopy can be performed in the diagnosis investigation, along with treatments to induce and maintain remission. In this sense, anti-inflammatory drugs, such as corticosteroids, immunomodulators, and biological agents, as well as surgery and non-pharmacological interventions plays a role in its therapy. The aim of this review is to bring more current evidence to clinical management of CD, as well as to briefly discuss aspects of its pathophysiology, surveillance, and associated disorders.

Anatomy of the anterior jugular veins: anatomical study of 30 cadavers

Introduction: Human anatomy is essential for both clinical and surgical practice. Although the anterior jugular veins (AJVs) are of great importance in many surgeries, there are few studies addressing the anatomic variations of these vessels. This study highlights the venous drainage of the head and neck and the importance of anatomical variations in the AJVs. Objective: To observe and describe the anatomy of the jugular veins and evaluate whether there are patterns influenced by anthropometric factors or comorbidities. Methods: Neck dissections were performed on 30 cadavers. The anatomical characteristics of the AJVs were described considering diameter, midline distance, anastomosis, and presence of the jugular venous arch. Results: Cadavers of 14 women and 16 men were dissected. Ninety percent (90%) of the jugular veins had a rectilinear path and 37% presented anastomosis: H-shaped (63.7%),N-shaped (27.3% ), and Y-shaped (9%). In relation to the number of veins, 20% of the cadavers had only one AJV, 63.3% had two, 10% had three, and 6.7% presented a total of four. Mean distance between jugular veins was 12 mm, and most veins (60%) had a diameter <5 mm. There was no statistically significant correlation between anatomical variations and anthropometric factors. Conclusion: AJVs were always present in the dissected cadavers, and the configuration most commonly found was two veins, each <5 mm in diameter. They were less than 10 mm away from the cervical midline and, when they presented anastomosis, it was H-shaped in most cases.

O papel de cartas pessoais na saúde mental de idosos em instituições asilares no contexto pandêmico de COVID-19

O contexto de pandemia do vírus Sars-Cov-2 contribuiu para a diminuição significativa do contato dos idosos com seus companheiros e familiares, além de desencadear sentimentos de vulnerabilidade e solidão. Além disso, o olhar sensível às subjetividades e demandas individuais deve ser continuamente estimulado durante todo o processo de educação médica, de modo a promover uma formação profissional mais sensível às necessidades do outro. Nesse sentido, a ação intitulada "Cartas aos Idosos" foi criada com o intuito de estabelecer uma comunicação entre idosos e estudantes por meio de cartas com conteúdo de afeto e suporte emocional. A ação "Cartas aos Idosos'', desenvolvida remotamente pela Federação Internacional das Associações de Estudantes de Medicina do Brasil (IFMSA Brazil) da Universidade Federal da Bahia, Campus Anísio Teixeira (UFBA-CAT), entre os meses de agosto e outubro, consistiu na escrita de cartas por estudantes de Medicina, de cunho pessoal, para idosos em situação asilar. O impacto da ação foi medido por meio de uma análise qualitativa dos envolvidos. A atividade foi bem-sucedida no que se refere ao acolhimento e ao amparo dos idosos envolvidos.

Transtornos mentais em crianças no contexto de saúde da família / Trastornos mentales en niños en el contexto de salud familiar / Mental disorders in children in thecontextof family Health

Descrever os transtornos mentais dos tipos emocionais e comportamentais em crianças de 2 a 6 anos, segundo a avaliação dos pais/responsáveis. Método: Delineamento transversal, em uma escola da área de abrangência de uma equipe de Saúde da Família no município da Região Ampliada Oeste de Minas Gerais. Aplicou-se um questionário socio demográfico e o Inventário dos Comportamentos de Crianças (CBCL). Resultado: Observou-se o predomínio no sexo masculino da desordem reatividade emocional (39,3%) e o menor índice em problemas com o sono (9%). No sexo feminino as desordens depressão (34,2%) e complicações somáticas (34,2%) são as mais frequentes, sendo a timidez/isolamento (2,85) a menos frequente. Conclusão: A descoberta precoce de transtornos mentais em crianças pode auxiliar no delineamento de cuidados e políticas e o enfermeiro exerce papel importante neste contexto.

Objective: To describe mental disorders of emotional and behavioral types in children aged 2 to 6 years, according to the assessment of parents/guardians. Method: Cross-sectional design, in a school in the catchment area of a Family Health team in the municipality of the Extended West Region of Minas Gerais. A sociodemographic questionnaire and the Children's Behavior Inventory (CBCL) were applied. Results: There was a predominance of emotional reactivity disorder in males (39.3%) and a lower rate of sleep problems (9%). In females, depression (34.2%) and somatic complications (34.2%) are the most frequent, with shyness/isolation (2.85) being the least frequent. Conclusion: The early discovery of mental disorders in children can help design care and policies, and nurses play an important role in this context.

Objetivo: Describir los trastornos mentales de tipo emocional y conductual en niños de 2 a 6 años, según la valoración de los padres/tutores. Método: Diseño transversal, en una escuela de la zona de influencia de un equipo de Salud de la Familia en el municipio de la Región Oeste Extendido de Minas Gerais. Se aplicó un cuestionario sociodemográfico y el Inventario de Conducta Infantil (CBCL). Resultados: Predominó el trastorno de reactividad emocional en el sexo masculino (39,3%) y una menor tasa de problemas de sueño (9%). En el sexo femenino, la depresión (34,2%) y las complicaciones somáticas (34,2%) son las más frecuentes, siendo la timidez/aislamiento (2,85) las menos frecuentes. Conclusión: El descubrimiento temprano de los trastornos mentales en los niños puede ayudar a diseñar cuidados y políticas, y las enfermeras juegan un papel importante en este contexto.

Ethnobotanical knowledge of herbalists about medicinal plants from the semiarid region in northeastern Brazil / Conocimiento etnobotánico de herbolarios sobre plantas medicinales de la región semiárida del noreste de Brasil

Medicinal plants have been used since ancient times to treat illnesses. This study aimed to identify through questionnaire the medicinal plants most frequently sold on public and street markets in some municipalities of Paraíba state, northeastern Brazil, and the knowledge of herbalists about their therapeutic indications and forms of use. The sample consisted of 28 herbalists. Fifteen plants with a dental indication were identified, including barbatimão (Stryphnodendron adstringens), aroeira (Myracrodruon urundeuva), gengibre (Zingiber officinale), romã (Punica granatum), cajueiro-roxo (Anacardium occidentale), mulungu (Erythrina velutina) and quixaba (Sideroxylon obtusfolium), as well as 21 plants used for the treatment of general diseases, including barbatimão (S. adstringens), aroeira (M. urundeuva), cajueiro-roxo (A. occidentale), quixaba (S. obtusfolium), boldo (Peumus boldus) and erva doce (Pimpinella anisum). Bottled preparations ("garrafadas")and teas were the most frequently indicated forms of use. The results suggest that herbalists have a vast traditional knowledge of the therapeutic potential of commercialized plants.

Las plantas medicinales se han utilizado desde la antigüedad para tratar enfermedades. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo identificar a través de cuestionario las plantas medicinales más vendidas en mercados públicos y callejeros en algunos municipios del estado de Paraíba, noreste de Brasil, y el conocimiento de los herbolarios sobre sus indicaciones terapéuticas y formas de uso. La muestra estuvo formada por 28 herbolarios. Se identificaron quince plantas con indicación dental, entre las que se encuentran barbatimão (Stryphnodendron adstringens), aroeira (Myracrodruon urundeuva), jenjibre (Zingiber officinale), romã (Punica granatum), cajueiro-roxo (Anacardium occidentale), mulungu (Erythrina velutina) y quixaba (Sideroxylon obtusfolium), así como 21 plantas utilizadas para el tratamiento de enfermedades generales, incluidas barbatimão (S. adstringens), aroeira (M. urundeuva), cajueiro-roxo (A. occidentale), quixaba (S. obtusfolium), boldo (Peumus boldus) y erva doce (Pimpinella anisum). Las preparaciones embotelladas ("garrafadas") y los tés fueron las formas de uso más frecuentemente indicadas. Los resultados sugieren que los herbolarios tienen un vasto conocimiento tradicional del potencial terapéutico de las plantas comercializadas.

Zebrafish Avatars of rectal cancer patients validate the radiosensitive effect of metformin.

Neoadjuvant chemoradiation (nCRT) followed by surgery represents the standard of care in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. Increasing radiotherapy (RT) doses and chemotherapy cycles with 5FU have been associated with increased rates of complete response, however these strategies imply significant toxicity. In the last years, epidemiologic findings have demonstrated that metformin is associated with significantly higher rates of pathological complete response to nCRT. Also, pre-clinical studies using cell lines provide evidence for the radiosensitive effect of metformin. However, no studies have been performed using rectal cancer patient samples to test this radiosensitive effect of metformin and compared it to the standard 5FU. Here, we designed an experimental study to compare both radiosensitizers in the zebrafish xenograft model (zAvatar), using rectal cancer surgical specimens and diagnostic biopsies. Patient zAvatars confirmed that metformin has indeed a powerful in vivo radiosensitizer effect, similar to 5FU. Our work confirms that metformin constitutes a promising less toxic alternative to the standard 5FU, which could be game changing in elderly/frail patients to optimize tumor regression.

Ion Channels in Endometrial Cancer.

Uterine or endometrial cancer (EC) is the sixth most common neoplasia among women worldwide. Cancer can originate from a myriad of causes, and increasing evidence suggests that ion channels (IC) play an important role in the process of carcinogenesis, taking part in many pathways such as self-sufficiency in growth signals, proliferation, evasion of programmed cell death (apoptosis), angiogenesis, cell differentiation, migration, adhesion, and metastasis. Hormones and growth factors are well-known to be involved in the development and/or progression of many cancers and can also regulate some ion channels and pumps. Since the endometrium is responsive and regulated by these factors, the ICs could make an important contribution to the development and progression of endometrial cancer. In this review, we explore what is beyond (ion) flow regulation by investigating the role of the main families of ICs in EC, including as possible targets for EC treatment.