Chimarrão consumption and prognostic factors in breast cancer: Correlation with antioxidants and blood caffeine levels.

Breast cancer is the second most common malignancy among women. Ilex paraguariensis A. St. Hil, known as yerba mate, is widely consumed in southern Brazil as a hot infusion drink known as chimarrão. This herb has a complex chemical composition and is rich in antioxidants, which may interfere in the course of chronic inflammatory diseases as breast cancer. This study investigated the impact of chimarrão consumption on the clinicopathological profile of women with breast cancer attended at Francisco Beltrão Cancer Hospital, Paraná, Brazil. Blood antioxidants and caffeine profiles were assessed. Decreases in reduced glutathione and metallothionein levels, and increase in catalase activity were observed among breast cancer patients that were chimarrão consumers. The levels of circulating caffeine in breast cancer patients with luminal A tumors were higher than those in patients with luminal B and HER-2 subtypes. Furthermore, overweight patients presented higher caffeine levels than the eutrophic ones. It was found positive associations between chimarrão intake and high body mass index, and chimarrão intake and menopause at diagnosis. Altogether, these findings suggest that chimarrão consumption affects the blood antioxidants of breast cancer patients, and that the caffeine present in this mixture may favor the development of tumor of good prognosis. HIGHLIGHTS: Chimarrão consumption may affect the course of chronic inflammatory diseases, as breast cancer. Chimarrão intake changed blood antioxidants in breast cancer patients who were current consumers when compared to the non-consumers ones. High levels of caffeine were detected in patients bearing luminal A tumors, suggesting a protective role.

Cytochrome P450 detection in liver of the catfish Ancistrus multispinis (Osteichthyes, Loricariidae)

Sensitive biological responses to environmental contaminants are useful as early warning signals to predict the damages by long-term exposure. Protocols standardization to quantify biochemical parameters in different fish species is required to validate its use as biomarkers. Comparative studies from different fish species and its interpretation are a challenge for the validation of its use as general biomarkers, representative of environmental impact. In this study, the protocol for liver cytochrome P450 (CYP) analysis from the native Brazilian fish Ancistrus multispinis was established. The microsome contamination by hemoglobin during the analysis of CYP in liver was detected, leading to misinterpretation of the results. The spectrophotometric method for CYP analysis was adapted in order to diminish the hemoglobin interference. Additionally, the western blotting method for CYP1A analysis was tested with success for this fish species.

Respostas biológicas sensíveis aos contaminantes ambientais são úteis para prever efeitos prejudiciais devido a exposições crônicas. Padronização de protocolos para quantificar parâmetros bioquímicos em diferentes espécies de peixes é necessária para validar o uso como biomarcador. Estudos comparativos de diferentes espécies de peixe e sua interpretação são um avanço para a validação do uso de biomarcadores gerais, representativos do impacto ambiental. Neste estudo o protocolo para a análise do citocromo P450 (CYP) do peixe nativo brasileiro Ancistrus multispinis foi estabelecido. Cyp é um biomarcador de exposição principalmente de hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos (HAP), bifenilas policloradas (PCB) e dioxinas. A contaminação do microssomo pela hemoglobina durante as análises do CYP no fígado foi detectada, levando a uma interpretação errônea dos resultados. O método espectrofotométrico para análise do CYP foi adaptado para diminuir a interferência da hemoglobina. Além disso, o método de western blotting para análise de CYP1A foi testado com sucesso para essa espécie de peixe.