New approaches to the effectiveness of inhalation aromatherapy in controlling painful conditions: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Gather scientific evidence on the application of inhalation aromatherapy for pain relief and estimate the effect measure of this practice on pain reduction. METHODS: Searches were performed in 2021 in the Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane, Science direct, Lilacs, Scielo databases. We selected 44 articles demonstrating the effect of aromatherapy on different painful conditions, of which 17 were inserted in the meta-analysis. The risk of bias was assessed according to Cochrane methodology. RESULTS: In 35 (79.55%) studies was observed a significant reduction in pain, especially pain labor and postoperative pain. Through the meta-analysis, it was found that inhalation aromatherapy reduces by up to -1.73 points of the visual analog scale (VAS), indicating that this practice contributes to the reduction of pain perception in different painful conditions. In addition, the meta-analysis indicated that the time after inhalation, the type of oil used and the type of pain treated are important variables that interfere with the magnitude of the effect. These effects are attributed to the ability of essential oils to modulate nerve control centers and neurotransmission systems involved in pain control. CONCLUSION: From the gathering of articles on aromatherapy, it can be noted that aromatherapy appears to be helpful in alleviating acute pain, however there is an imminent need to improve aromatherapy studies to reduce the risk of bias and increase the power of its clinical evidence. PROSPERO: CRD42019121665.

Citrus Extract as a Perspective for the Control of Dyslipidemia: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis From Animal Models to Human Studies.

This study aims to obtain scientific evidence on the use of Citrus to control dyslipidemia. The surveys were carried out in 2020 and updated in March 2021, in the PubMed, Scopus, LILACS, and SciELO databases, using the following descriptors: Citrus, dyslipidemias, hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipidemias, lipoproteins, and cholesterol. The risk of bias was assessed according to the Cochrane methodology for clinical trials and ARRIVE for preclinical trials. A meta-analysis was performed using the application of R software. A total of 958 articles were identified and 26 studies demonstrating the effectiveness of the Citrus genus in controlling dyslipidemia were selected, of which 25 were included in the meta-analysis. The effects of Citrus products on dyslipidemia appear consistently robust, acting to reduce total cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides, in addition to increasing HDL. These effects are associated with the composition of the extracts, extremely rich in antioxidant, as flavonoids, and that act on biochemical targets involved in lipogenesis and beta-oxidation. The risk of bias over all of the included studies was considered critically low to moderate. The meta-analysis demonstrated results favorable to control dyslipidemia by Citrus products. On the other hand, high heterogeneity values were identified, weakening the evidence presented. From this study, one can suggest that Citrus species extracts are potential candidates for dyslipidemia control, but more studies are needed to increase the strength of this occurrence.

In Vitro and In Vivo Models for Studying SARS-CoV-2, the Etiological Agent Responsible for COVID-19 Pandemic.

The emergence and rapid worldwide spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has prompted the scientific community to rapidly develop in vitro and in vivo models that could be applied in COVID-19 research. In vitro models include two-dimensional (2D) cultures of immortalized cell lines or primary cells and three-dimensional (3D) cultures derived from lung, alveoli, bronchi, and other organs. Although cell-based systems are economic and allow strict control of experimental variables, they do not always resemble physiological conditions. Thus, several in vivo models are being developed, including different strains of mice, hamsters, ferrets, dogs, cats, and non-human primates. In this review, we summarize the main models of SARS-CoV-2 infection developed so far and discuss their advantages, drawbacks and main uses.

Anticancer drug screening: standardization of in vitro wound healing assay / Triagem de drogas anticâncer: padronização do ensaio de ranhura in vitro

ABSTRACT Introduction: Gliomas are characterized by rapid proliferation and aggressive invasion into normal surrounding brain tissue. In medical laboratories, the in vitro wound healing assay stands out as a simple, easy, inexpensive and affordable method to evaluate cell migration and proliferation. Objective: To standardize the in vitro wound healing assay using antimicrotubule drugs as positive controls. Methods: U87MG glioma cells were seeded at different densities and, after 24 h, the monolayer was scratched using different micropipette tip size to create a gap with no cells. The cells were then treated with colchicine and paclitaxel in culture medium with the presence or absence of fetal bovine serum. The wound was photographed with the aid of an inverted microscope and the wound area was measured using the Image J software. Results: Better defined edges scratches and monolayer with approximately 90% confluence were obtained at 1.5 and 2 x 105 cells/well density. The width and area of the scratch were, respectively, 948 pm/2.193221 mm2; 964 pm/2.266 mm2 and 1448 pm/3.221 mm2 to 10. 200 and 1000 pl micropipette tips. Colchicine inhibited wound closure by 12.6% or 3.4%, both in the presence or absence of serum; paclitaxel 2.4 and 6.7% respectively. Conclusion: Under standardized conditions, colchicine and paclitaxel proved to be efficient positive controls into the in vitro wound healing assay.

RESUMEN Introducción: Gliomas se caracterizan por rápida proliferación e invasion agresiva del tejido cerebral normal circundante. En laboratorios médicos, el ensayo de cierre de herida - una prueba in vitro - se destaca por ser un método simple, fácil, de bajo costo y accesiblepara evaluar la migración y la proliferación celular. Objetivo: Estandarizar el ensayo de cierre de herida usando agentes anti-microtúbulos como control positivo. Métodos: Las células de glioma U87MG fueron sembradas en diferentes concentracionesy, después de 24 horas, la monocamadafue rayada con punteras de diferentes tamanos para crear una hendidura sin células. Las células fueron entonces tratadas con colchicina y paclitaxel, en medio con o sin suero fetal bovino. La ranura fue fotografiada con la ayuda de un microscopio invertido, y el área de la ranura fue medida mediante el programa Image J. Resultados: Ranuras con bordes más bien-definidos y monocamada con alrededor de 90% de confluencia se obtuvieron con 1,5 y 2 x 105 células/pozo. La anchura y el área de las ranuras obtenidas fueron, respectivamente, 948 p.m/2,193 mm2; 964p.m/2,266mm2; y 1448p.m/3,221 mm2 para las punteras de 10,200y 1000pl. La colchicina inhibió el cierre de las ranuras en 12,6% o 2,4%, tanto en presencia como en ausencia de suero; el paclitaxel, 3,4% y 6,7%, respectivamente. Conclusión: En condiciones estandarizadas, colchicina y paclitaxel pueden ser usados como control positivo en el ensayo de cierre de herida in vitro.

RESUMO Introdução: Gliomas são caracterizados por terem rápida proliferação e invasão agressiva no tecido cerebral circundante normal. Em laboratórios médicos, o ensaio de ranhura - um teste in vitro - destaca-se por ser um método simples, fácil, barato e acessível para avaliar a migração e a proliferação celular. Objetivo: Padronizar o ensaio de ranhura, utilizando drogas antimicrotúbulos como controles positivos. Métodos: As células de glioma U87MG foram semeadas em diferentes concentrações e, após 24 horas, a monocamada foi arranhada usando ponteiras de diferentes tamanhos para criar uma fenda sem células. As células foram então tratadas com colchicina e paclitaxel, com meio em ausência ou presença de soro fetal bovino. A ranhura foi fotografada com auxílio de microscópio invertido, e a área da ranhura foi medida por meio do programa Image J. Resultados: Ranhuras com bordas mais bem definidas e monocamada com aproximadamente 90% de confluência foram obtidas com 1,5 e 2 x 105 células/poço. A largura e a área das ranhuras obtidasforam, respectivamente, 948pm/2,193 mm2;964pm/2,266mm2; e 1448 pm/3,221 mm2 para as ponteiras de 10, 200 e 1000 pl. A colchicina inibiu o fechamento das ranhuras em 12,6% ou 2,4%, tanto na presença quanto na ausência de soro; o paclitaxel, em 3,4% e 6,7%, respectivamente. Conclusão: Em condições padronizadas, colchicina e paclitaxel podem ser usados como controles positivos eficientes no teste in vitro de ranhura.