Quality of life in patients treated with breast cancer surgery and adjuvant systemic therapy and/or adjuvant radiotherapy in Uruguay.

INTRODUCTION: Breast cancer (BC) and its treatment can impair patient quality of life (QoL), and those undergoing more aggressive treatments may be more severely impacted. Objective: Assess the level of perception of the QoL of patients treated for BC at the Hospital de Clínicas and the Departmental Hospital of Soriano. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire for cancer patients (EORTC, QLQ-C30) and one specific for BC (EORTC QLQ-BR23) were used. RESULTS: A total of 158 patients who had completed chemotherapy treatment at least one year prior to the evaluation were enrolled. The average age was 61 years old. QLQC QUESTIONNAIRE: The global QoL score (GQOL) was high: 70.9. Patients undergoing breast-conservation surgery (BCS) had better scores in physical and emotional functioning (p < 0.005) and presented less frequently with: pain, constipation, and financial difficulties (p < 0.005). Those undergoing sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) had higher scores for GQOL and for physical, role, and social functioning scales (p < 0.001) and had less fatigue, pain, insomnia, and financial difficulties (p < 0.005). QUESTIONNAIRE QLQBR: Sexual functioning and sexual enjoyment scales were relatively low. Patients undergoing BCS had better scores on the functional scales: body image and future outlook; and fewer breast symptoms (p < 0.005). Those undergoing SLNB also had better scores on the functional scales for body image and future outlook future and presented less frequently with symptoms (p < 0.005). CONCLUSION: Uruguayan BC patients experience high values on the GQOL scale; those undergoing BCS and SLNB had better scores on most functional and problem/symptom scales. Patients undergoing BCS had better scores in physical and emotional functioning and presented less frequently with pain, constipation, and financial difficulties. With respect to the type of axillary surgery received, patients who underwent SLNB had higher scores on the GQOL scale and on the physical, role, and social functional scales. The implementation of intervention strategies aimed at improving the quality of life, and the physical and emotional care of patients is recommended.

Effect of Hydrogel Containing Achyrocline satureioides (Asteraceae) Extract-Loaded Nanoemulsions on Wound Healing Activity.

Achyrocline satureioides (Lam.) DC extract-loaded nanoemulsions have demonstrated potential for wound healing, with promising effects on keratinocyte proliferation. We carried out the first in vivo investigation of the wound healing activity of a hydrogel containing A. satureioides extract-loaded nanoemulsions. We prepared hydrogels by adding the gelling agent (Carbopol® Ultrez) to extract-loaded nanoemulsions (~250 nm in diameter) obtained by spontaneous emulsification. The final flavonoid content in formulation was close to 1 mg/mL, as estimated by ultra-fast liquid chromatography. Permeation/retention studies using porcine ear skin showed that flavonoids reached deeper layers of pig ear skin when it was damaged (up to 3.2 µg/cm² in the dermis), but did not reach the Franz-type diffusion cell receptor fluid. For healing activity, we performed a dorsal wound model using Wistar rats, evaluating the lesion size, anti-inflammatory markers, oxidative damage, and histology. We found that extract-loaded formulations promoted wound healing by increasing angiogenesis by ~20%, reducing inflammation (tumor necrosis factor α) by ~35%, decreasing lipid damage, and improving the re-epithelialization process in lesions. In addition, there was an increase in the number of blood vessels and hair follicles for wounds treated with the formulation compared with the controls. Our findings indicate that the proposed formulation could be promising in the search for better quality healing and tissue reconstruction.

Curcumin and Quercetin-Loaded Lipid Nanocarriers: Development of Omega-3 Mucoadhesive Nanoemulsions for Intranasal Administration.

Curcumin (CUR) and quercetin (QU) are potential compounds for treatment of brain diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases (ND) because of their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, low water solubility and poor bioavailability hinder their clinical use. In this context, nanotechnology arises as a strategy to overcome biopharmaceutical issues. In this work, we develop, characterize, compare, and optimize three different omega-3 (ω-3) fatty acids nanoemulsions (NEs) loaded with CUR and QU (negative, cationic, gelling) prepared by two different methods for administration by intranasal route (IN). The results showed that formulations prepared with the two proposed methods exhibited good stability and were able to incorporate a similar amount of CUR and QU. On the other side, differences in size, zeta potential, in vitro release kinetics, and permeation/retention test were observed. Considering the two preparation methods tested, high-pressure homogenization (HPH) shows advantages, and the CQ NE- obtained demonstrated potential for sustained release. Toxicity studies demonstrated that the formulations were not toxic for Caenorhabditis elegans. The developed ω-3 fatty acid NEs have shown a range of interesting properties for the treatment of brain diseases, since they have the potential to increase the nose-to-brain permeation of CUR and QU, enabling enhanced treatments efficiency.

Repercusión de la pandemia COVID-19 en el diagnóstico y tratamiento del cáncer de mama en pacientes asistidas en la Unidad de Mastología del Hospital de Clínicas / Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer in patients assisted at Clinicals Hospital Breast Unit / Repercussão da pandemia de COVID-19 no diagnóstico e tratamento do câncer de mama em pacientes atendidas na Unidade de Mastologia do Hospital de Clínicas

Introducción: la crisis sanitaria por COVID-19 impactó en la atención de diversas patologías, entre ellas, el cáncer. Con el fin de disminuir el riesgo de contraer SARS-CoV-2 se redujo el número de consultas, lo que determinó un aumento en la tasa de morbilidad y mortalidad para otras patologías, lo que se ha denominado la "segunda pandemia". Objetivo: describir la actividad asistencial de la Unidad de Mastología (UM) en el período marzo 2020 - marzo 2022 y compararla con la del período marzo 2019 - marzo 2021. Objetivo: describir la actividad asistencial de la Unidad de Mastología (UM) en el período marzo 2020 - marzo 2022 y compararla con la del período marzo 2019 - marzo 2021. Material y método: estudio observacional retrospectivo que incluyó a pacientes asistidas por cáncer de mama (CM) en el período marzo 2019 - marzo 2022. Resultados: durante el año previo a la pandemia se asistieron 30 nuevas pacientes. En cuanto al tiempo entre el diagnóstico anatomopatológico y el primer tratamiento, en 73,3% fue ≤ 2 meses, 16,6% > 2 meses y ≤ 4 meses y en 10% fue > 4 meses. Durante la pandemia se asistieron 50 pacientes nuevas, lo que se traduce en un descenso de 16,6%. En cuanto al tiempo entre el diagnóstico anatomopatológico y el primer tratamiento: en 41% fue ≤ 2 meses, 33% > 2 meses y ≤ 4 meses y en 25% fue > 4 meses. Conclusiones: si bien se logró mantener la actividad asistencial y dar continuidad a la mayoría de los tratamientos, durante la pandemia COVID-19 se redujo el número de pacientes derivadas al servicio en aproximadamente 16,6% y se produjo un aumento en el tiempo transcurrido entre el diagnóstico y el primer tratamiento.

Introduction: the COVID-19 health crisis had a significant impact on the management of various pathologies, including cancer. To reduce the risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2, the number of consultations was reduced, leading to increased morbidity and mortality rates for other pathologies, which has been referred to as the "second pandemic." Objective: The aim of this study is to describe the clinical activity of the Breast Unit (BU) during the period March 2020-2022 and compare it with the activity during the period March 2019-2021. Objective: the aim of this study is to describe the clinical activity of the Breast Unit (BU) during the period March 2020-2022 and compare it with the activity during the period March 2019-2021. Method: retrospective observational study including patients attending the BU during the period March 2019-2022. Results: in the year before the pandemic, 30 new patients were assisted. Regarding the time between anatomopathological diagnosis and the initiation of the first treatment: in 73.3% of cases, it was ≤ 2 months, 16.6% > 2 months and ≤ 4 months, and in 10%, it was > 4 months. During the pandemic, 50 new patients were assisted, representing a decrease of approximately 16.6% in the number of new patients attended. Regarding the time between anatomopathological diagnosis and the initiation of the first treatment: in 41% of cases, it was ≤ 2 months, 33% > 2 months and ≤ 4 months, and in 25%, it was > 4 months. Conclusion: although the BU managed to maintain its clinical activity and continuity of most treatments during the COVID pandemic, there was a reduction in the number of patients referred to the service by approximately 16.6% and an increase in the time elapsed between diagnosis and the initiation of the first treatment.

Introdução: a crise sanitária causada pela COVID-19 impactou o atendimento de diversas patologias, inclusive o câncer. Para diminuir o risco de contrair SARS-CoV-2, reduziu-se o número de consultas, o que determinou um aumento da taxa de morbimortalidade por outras patologias, o que tem sido chamado de "segunda pandemia". Objetivo: descrever a atividade assistencial da Unidade de Mastologia (UM) no período março de 2020 - março de 2022 e compará-la com a do período março de 2019 - março de 2020. Material e método: estudo observacional retrospectivo que incluiu pacientes atendidos pelo CM no período março de 2019 - março de 2022. Resultados: no ano anterior à pandemia foram atendidos 30 novos pacientes. Em relação ao tempo entre o diagnóstico patológico e o primeiro tratamento: em 73,3% foi ≤2 meses, 16,6% >2 meses e ≤4 meses e em 10% foi >4 meses. Durante a pandemia, foram atendidos 50 novos pacientes, o que se traduz em uma queda de 16,6%no número de novos pacientes atendidos. Quanto ao tempo entre o diagnóstico patológico e o primeiro tratamento: em 41% foi ≤2 meses, 33% >2 meses e ≤4 meses e em 25% foi >4 meses. Conclusão: embora tenha conseguido manter a atividade assistencial e dar continuidade à maioria dos tratamentos, durante a pandemia de COVID-19 o número de pacientes encaminhados para o Serviço diminuiu cerca de 16,6% e houve um aumento do tempo decorrido entre o diagnóstico e o primeiro tratamento.