Bee Venom Toxic Effect on MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cells and Caenorhabditis Elegans.

INTRODUCTION: Bee venom has therapeutics and pharmacological properties. Further toxicological studies on animal models are necessary due to the severe allergic reactions caused by this product. METHOD: Here, Caenorhabditis elegans was used as an in vivo toxicity model, while breast cancer cells were used to evaluate the pharmacological benefits. The bee venom utilized in this research was collected from Apis mellifera species found in Northeast Brazil. The cytotoxicity caused by bee venom was measured by MTT assay on MDA-MB-231 and J774 A.1 cells during 24 - 72 hours of exposure. C. elegans at the L4 larval stage were exposed for three hours to M9 buffer or bee venom. Survival, behavioral parameters, reproduction, DAF-16 transcription factor translocation, the expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD), and metabolomics were analyzed. Bee venom suppressed the growth of MDA-MB-231 cancer cells and exhibited cytotoxic effects on macrophages. Also, decreased C. elegans survival impacted its behaviors by decreasing C. elegans feeding behavior, movement, and reproduction. RESULTS: Bee venom did not increase the expression of SOD-3, but it enhanced DAF-16 translocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. C. elegans metabolites differed after bee venom exposure, primarily related to aminoacyl- tRNA biosynthesis, glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, and sphingolipid and purine metabolic pathways. Our findings indicate that exposure to bee venom resulted in harmful effects on the cells and animal models examined. CONCLUSION: Thus, due to its potential toxic effect and induction of allergic reactions, using bee venom as a therapeutic approach has been limited. The development of controlled-release drug strategies to improve this natural product's efficacy and safety should be intensified.

Benefits of Spiritual and Religious Support in the Pain Management of Cancer Patients: A Literature Scoping Review.

Pain is one of the main symptoms of cancer and the most difficult to control due to its complexity as it can involve physical, psychological, social, and spiritual aspects. We proposed to summarize the scientific knowledge already published related to the influence of spirituality on pain therapy in cancer patients. Articles were searched in PubMed, SciELO, SciFinder, PsycInfo, and ScienceDirect databases using the following descriptors: "Spirituality," "Religion," "Religion," "Chronic Pain," "Pain Management" and "Cancer." A total of 68 articles were included and discussed. Most articles dealt with the influence of spirituality in palliative care, focussed on patient quality, and highlighted the importance of integrative oncology. Although few studies associated spirituality with chronic pain, most articles reported that spirituality could confer greater pain control.

Protective mucus effect of the crude fraction of the mucus produced by the zoanthide Palythoa caribaeorum.

AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate the gastroduodenal protective action of crude fraction extracted from P. caribaeorum mucus in Wistar rats. MAIN METHOD: Initially, phytochemical screening was performed to measure secondary metabolites present in the extract. Subsequently, studies of gastroprotective action in Wistar rats were developed. The animals were randomly divided into six experimental groups: SF0.9% group, misoprostol group, and test groups (200, 100, 10, and 1 mg/kg) that received different doses of the crude fraction of zoanthid mucus (CFZM) diluted in SF0.9%. After 14 days of treatment, acute gastric ulcers were induced by gavage by administering aspirin (200 mg/kg). The stomach and duodenum were removed for histopathological and gene analysis of the mucosa. KEY FINDINGS: The present study found that all investigated metabolites showed negative results. The crude fraction showed a gastric and duodenal protective effect evidenced by an increase in the amount and production of mucins (MUC1 and MUC5AC) and mucus production area in the stomach. Histopathological analysis evidenced a decrease in epithelial damage in the duodenum, with a more significant extension of intestinal villi and a greater amount of goblet cells. SIGNIFICANCE: The crude fraction, extracted from P. caribaeorum, showed gastric and duodenal protective action and is not inert in murine gastroduodenal tissues.

Synergism between metallic nanoparticles and antibiotics.

The discovery of antibiotics in the twentieth century made it possible to treat bacterial infections and revolutionized modern medicine. However, gradually, it is possible to perceive a decrease in the effectiveness of antimicrobial agents against pathogenic isolates, which, together with the low investment in the discovery and/or development of new antibiotics by large pharmaceutical companies since the 1960s, makes it increasingly difficult to treatment of infections caused by these microorganisms. The search for strategies capable of potentiating the effect of existing drugs through the development of new therapeutic approaches, which also have the potential to circumvent bacterial resistance to antibiotics, has become indispensable. In this context, metallic nanoparticles stand out, as they could be used to act synergistically with drugs. Thus, the objective of this review was to present the latest information on the synergistic activity of antibiotics with metallic nanoparticles, pointing out this association as a promising alternative for the preservation of bacterial sensitivity to these drugs. The different metallic nanoparticles can present different benefits in the treatment of bacterial infections, with this being able to potentiate the bacterial activity of antibiotics that are widely used in the clinic, being able to increase the susceptibility in multiresistant microorganisms. KEY POINTS: • Metallic nanoparticles increased the antimicrobial action of drugs; • Metallic nanoparticles compromise the action of bacterial efflux pumps; • Biofilm formation was inhibited after treatment with metallic nanoparticles.

Nanotechnology and tuberculosis: An old disease with new treatment strategies.

Tuberculosis is an intracellular infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which mainly affects the lungs. Especially in patients infected by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) or other immunosuppressed patients, tuberculosis is considered one of the infectious diseases with higher morbidity and mortality rates. Despite considerable improvements in diagnosis and treatment during the last decades, the drugs currently used in tuberculosis treatment still have limitations, such as low plasma levels after oral administration, low solubility in water, fast metabolization by the liver with a short 1/2 life and low patient adherence to treatment. Another limiting point is drug-resistant strains. Thus, to overcome such limitations, nanotechnology emerges as a promising alternative due to the drug release systems and its recent advances that show potential improvements, such as improved bioavailability and reduction of the therapeutic dose. In this context, this manuscript aimed to highlight the nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems studies pointing to those most effective for tuberculosis treatment. Studies based on polymeric nanoparticles are promising in diagnosing, treating, and even preventing tuberculosis because they have the high stability and transport capacity of these drugs. Solid lipid nanoparticles are another type of promising nanocarriers for treating tuberculosis, mainly for delivering drugs to the remote lymphatic system. Other promising nanosystems are the liposomes, since they have also shown efficacy in significantly reducing bacterial load compared to conventional drug administration. Given the results presented, the administration of drugs through nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems has benefits in treating tuberculosis since in vitro and in vivo studies have revealed that nanotechnology through nano- and micro-scale systems is an effective and promising approach for the treatment of tuberculosis. Furthermore, the increase in the number of patents for nanosystems aimed at treating TB has demonstrated researchers' commitment in the quest to improve the therapeutic arsenal against tuberculosis.

Quality of life in women with breast cancer treated at a radiotherapy centre in Caruaru, Pernambuco, Brazil.

Objective: To evaluate the quality of life (QOL) of patients with breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy treatment. Methods: The current study is a descriptive quantitative approach that seeks to identify the QOL of breast cancer patients during their radiotherapy treatment. A convenience sample of 30 women undergoing radiotherapy for breast cancer completed the EORTC QLQC30 questionnaire on Day 1 and Day 28. Results: Results showed significant differences in QOL between the two sessions. Decreases in overall health (88.33 to 61.67) and functional health (76.45 to 67.77) were noted in parallel to an increase in the scale of symptoms (13.85 for 24.62). Conclusions: The radiotherapeutic treatment impacts the QOL of patients with breast cancer. It is crucial for the nursing team to work together with a multi-professional team to adequately manage the treatment of these patients adequately.

Does Oncocalyxone A (oncoA) have intrinsic fluorescence?

BACKGROUND: Oncocalyxone A (oncoA) is a quinone extracted from the Cordia oncocalyx plant. This compound has pharmacological properties, such as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and cytotoxic activities, among others. OncoA presents a similar chemical structure to doxorubicin, a drug used in cancer treatment, which possesses an intrinsic fluorescence explored in various studies, including those using doxorubicin-loaded nanoparticles. Thus, due to the chemical structural similarity, the question arose whether oncoA could also show autofluorescence. Therefore, this study proposed to characterize the absorption and emission spectral profiles of oncoA and analyze if this compound could be used as a fluorescent probe. METHODS: For this, fucoidan-coated polyisobutylcyanoacrylate (PIBCA) nanoparticles containing oncoA were prepared, and an uptake study was performed using a human metastatic breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231 cells). RESULTS: OncoA presented a maximum emission wavelength in the blue region, near 430 nm, at 350 nm excitation, compatible with standard microscope optics. Fluorescence microscopy analyses showed that oncoA-loaded PIBCA nanoparticles were internalized by MDA-MB-231 cells under incubation times as shorter as 15 min. CONCLUSION: According to these findings, oncoA-encapsulated nanoparticles are promising fluorescent probes and could be useful for cellular uptake studies.

Panorama of Bacterial Infections Caused by Epidemic Resistant Strains.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents a critical obstacle to public health worldwide, due to the high incidence of strains resistant to available antibiotic therapies. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the prevalence of resistant epidemic strains, associated with this, public health authorities have been alarmed about a possible scenario of uncontrolled dissemination of these microorganisms and the difficulty in interrupting their transmission, as nosocomial pathogens with resistance profiles previously considered sporadic. They become frequent bacteria in the community. In addition, therapy for infections caused by these pathogens is based on broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy, which favors an increase in the tolerance of remaining bacterial cells and is commonly associated with a poor prognosis. In this review, we present the current status of epidemic strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), MDR Mycobacterium tuberculosis, extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL), Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC), and-New Delhi Metallo-beta-lactamase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa (NDM).

Nanotechnology and COVID-19: quo vadis?

The pandemic COVID-19 has worried everyone due to the high mortality rate and the high number of people hospitalized with severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by SARS-CoV-2. Given the seriousness of this disease, several companies and research institutions have sought alternative treatment and/or prevention methods for COVID-19. Due to its versatility, nanotechnology has allowed the development of protective equipment and vaccines to prevent the disease and reduce the number of severe COVID-19 cases. Thus, this article combined the main works and products developed in a nanotechnological field for COVID-19. We performed a literature search using the keywords "COVID-19," "SARS-CoV-2," "nanoparticles," "nanotechnology," and "liposomes" in the SciELO, Scifinder, PubMed, Sciencedirect, ClinicalTrials, and Nanotechnology Products databases Database. The data survey indicated 48 articles, 62 products, and 32 patents. The use of nanotechnology against COVID-19 has brought benefits in several parameters of this disease, helping develop rapid diagnostic tests that release the result in 10 min, as well as developing vaccines containing genetic material from SARS-CoV-2 (DNA, mRNA, and protein subunits). Nanotechnology is an exceptional ally against COVID-19, contributing to the most diverse areas, helping both prevent, diagnose, and treat COVID-19.

The Role of Essential Oils in the Inhibition of Efflux Pumps and Reversion of Bacterial Resistance to Antimicrobials.

Due to the deaths from infections caused by multidrug-resistant microorganisms worldwide, the World Health Organization considers antibiotic resistance to be a critical global public health problem. Bacterial resistance mechanisms are diverse and can be acquired through the overexpression of transmembrane proteins that are called efflux pumps, which act by expelling drugs from the intracellular environment, thereby preventing their action and contributing to the severity of infections. Efflux pumps are one of the main mechanisms of bacterial resistance, and it is important to identify new molecules that are capable of inhibiting the action of efflux pumps and circumvent the problem of resistance linked to the expression of these transmembrane proteins. The plants are promising candidates for obtaining biologically active substances, such as essential oils, with antimicrobial activity and inhibitors of efflux pumps, which can help in the resensitization of bacterial strains resistant to antibiotics. Therefore, this review aims to present the recently reported inhibitory activity of essential oils against bacterial pathogens that produce efflux pumps.

Can biosimilar products be interchangeable? Pharmaceutical perspective in the implementation of biosimilars in oncology.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety in the interchangeability of biosimilar products approved for cancer treatment from a pharmaceutical perspective. METHODS: A literature review was carried out using the descriptors "Biosimilar", "Oncology Therapy", "Interchangeable drugs" and "Biological Products", in the Sciencedirect, MEDLINE, and CAPLUS databases. RESULTS: Fifty-one articles were selected, which addressed the importance of establishing standards that prove the efficacy and safety of biosimilars with reference products, as well as the growing interest of the pharmaceutical industry in the development of biosimilars and the impact on costs and changes in the perspective of the treatment of cancer patients. CONCLUSIONS: As they are large and complex molecules, it is impossible to obtain identical copies of their reference products, which generates conflicts and concerns on the part of the pharmaceutical class regarding the safety in the interchangeability of these products, highlighting the importance of pharmacovigilance in this process.

Impact of COVID-19 on cancer patients: A review.

To inform about the impact of COVID-19 on cancer patients, a literature review was carried out, using the descriptors "COVID-19," "SARS-CoV-2," "Oncology," and "Coronavirus," in the Pubmed, Sciencedirect, and Scifinder databases. Fifty-three articles were included after analyzing the inclusion and exclusion criteria, being divided into five sessions: Epidemiological aspects of COVID-19; Pathophysiology of COVID-19; Clinical aspects of cancer patients; Risks to cancer patients infected with COVID-19; and Care for cancer patients amid a pandemic. The cancer patient has a weakened immune system, due to characteristics specific to the development of cancer or even chemotherapy, leaving these patients more susceptible to infections by COVID-19. Thus, the development of protection plans for cancer patients should be encouraged, reducing the exposure of these patients to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, contributing to the maintenance of the health of the cancer patient, and avoiding possible therapeutic complications that can lead the patient to death.

Nanocarriers in the Delivery of Hydroxychloroquine to the Respiratory System: An Alternative to COVID-19.

In response to the global outbreak caused by SARS-CoV-2, this article aims to propose the development of nanosystems for the delivery of hydroxychloroquine in the respiratory system to the treatment of COVID-19. A descriptive literature review was conducted, using the descriptors "COVID-19", "Nanotechnology", "Respiratory Syndrome" and "Hydroxychloroquine", in the PubMed, ScienceDirect and SciElo databases. After analyzing the articles according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, they were divided into 3 sessions: Coronavirus: definitions, classifications and epidemiology, pharmacological aspects of hydroxychloroquine and pharmaceutical nanotechnology in targeting of drugs. We used 131 articles published until July 18, 2020. Hydroxychloroquine seems to promote a reduction in viral load, in vivo studies, preventing the entry of SARS-CoV-2 into lung cells, and the safety of its administration is questioned due to the toxic effects that it can develop, such as retinopathy, hypoglycemia and even cardiotoxicity. Nanosystems for the delivery of drugs in the respiratory system may be a viable alternative for the administration of hydroxychloroquine, which may enhance the therapeutic effect of the drug with a consequent decrease in its toxicity, providing greater safety for implementation in the clinic in the treatment of COVID-19.

Antibacterial and antibiofilm potential of silver nanoparticles against antibiotic-sensitive and multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains.

Due to the severity of infections caused by P. aeruginosa and the limitations in treatment, it is necessary to find new therapeutic alternatives. Thus, the use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) is a viable alternative because of their potential actions in the combat of microorganisms, showing efficacy against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including multidrug-resistant microorganisms (MDR). In this sense, the aim of this work was to conduct a literature review related to the antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of AgNPs against antibiotic-sensitive and multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains. The AgNPs are promising for future applications, which may match the clinical need for effective antibiotic therapy. The size of AgNPs is a crucial element to determine the therapeutic activity of nanoparticles, since smaller particles present a larger surface area of contact with the microorganism, affecting their vital functioning. AgNPs adhere to the cytoplasmic membrane and cell wall of microorganisms, causing disruption, penetrating the cell, interacting with cellular structures and biomolecules, and inducing the generation of reactive oxygen species and free radicals. Studies describe the antimicrobial activity of AgNPs at minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) between 1 and 200 µg/mL against susceptible and MDR P. aeruginosa strains. These studies have also shown antibiofilm activity through disruption of biofilm structure, and oxidative stress, inhibiting biofilm growth at concentrations between 1 and 600 µg/mL of AgNPs. This study evidences the advance of AgNPs as an antibacterial and antibiofilm agent against Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, demonstrating to be an extremely promising approach to the development of new antimicrobial systems.

Pharmaceutical nanotechnology: which products are been designed against COVID-19?

The current pandemic COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has been affecting thousands of people worldwide, promoting high numbers of deaths. With this, the world population is going through a process of changing habits, with social distance, improvement of hygiene techniques, to reduce the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and, consequently, reduce the number of hospitalized people in serious condition, as well as the mortality rate. This scenario has been promoting a continuous search for researchers, in the most varied areas, for possible methods of prevention or cure. Specifically, in the field of pharmaceutical nanotechnology, a variety of products are being developed against SARS-CoV-2. Under these circumstances, we propose here an exposition of some of the nanotechnological products (nanoscale between 1 to 1000 nm) currently designed for the detection of the virus, for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19, in addition to equipment for personal protection. We believe that pharmaceutical nanotechnology will be a valuable tool in the disease from the development of products that guarantee our protection against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Religious/spiritual coping and level of hope in patients with cancer in chemotherapy.

AIM: To demonstrate the relationship between religious/spiritual coping and hope in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. METHOD: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive study with a quantitative approach performed in a reference outpatient clinic in Caruaru, PE, between August and October 2017. A total of 82 cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy were included in the study, using the brief religious/spiritual coping scale (RCOPE-Brief) and the Herth Hope Scale (HHS). RESULTS: The sample presented mean positive RCOPE scores (3.03 ± 0.41) and the level of hope was considered high (42.7 points ± 3.67). Patients who had a high RCOPE score were found to have a higher mean of Herth's level of hope (44.12 points). CONCLUSION: This study becomes relevant to nursing professionals by encouraging care that takes into account the patient's spiritual dimension in order to stimulate positive mechanisms of religious coping and, consequently, raise the levels of hope.

Religious/spiritual coping and level of hope in patients with cancer in chemotherapy / Coping religioso/espiritual y nivel de esperanza en pacientes con cáncer en quimioterapia / Coping religioso/espiritual e nível de esperança em pacientes com câncer em quimioterapia

ABSTRACT Aim: To demonstrate the relationship between religious/spiritual coping and hope in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Method: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive study with a quantitative approach performed in a reference outpatient clinic in Caruaru, PE, between August and October 2017. A total of 82 cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy were included in the study, using the brief religious/spiritual coping scale (RCOPE-Brief) and the Herth Hope Scale (HHS). Results: The sample presented mean positive RCOPE scores (3.03 ± 0.41) and the level of hope was considered high (42.7 points ± 3.67). Patients who had a high RCOPE score were found to have a higher mean of Herth's level of hope (44.12 points). Conclusion: This study becomes relevant to nursing professionals by encouraging care that takes into account the patient's spiritual dimension in order to stimulate positive mechanisms of religious coping and, consequently, raise the levels of hope.

RESUMEN Objetivo: demostrar la relación entre el coping religioso/espiritual y la esperanza en pacientes con cáncer en tratamiento quimioterápico. Método: se trata de un estudio transversal, descriptivo, con abordaje cuantitativo, realizado en un ambulatorio de referencia en tratamiento quimioterápico de Caruaru-PE, entre agosto y octubre de 2017. Participaron de la investigación 82 personas con cáncer en tratamiento quimioterápico, escala de coping religioso/espiritual breve (CRE-Breve) y la escala de esperanza de Herth (EEH). Resultado: la muestra presentó escores medios de CRE positivo (3,03 ± 0,41) y el nivel de esperanza fue considerado alto (42,7 puntos, ± 3,67). Se verificó que los pacientes que tuvieron clasificación alta del CRET presentaron mayor promedio del nivel de esperanza de Herth (44,12 puntos). Conclusión: se vuelve relevante a los profesionales de enfermería para alentar los cuidados que contemplan la dimensión espiritual del paciente a fin de estimular los mecanismos positivos del CRE y, consecuentemente, elevar los niveles de esperanza.

RESUMO Objetivo: demonstrar a relação entre o coping religioso/espiritual e a esperança em pacientes com câncer em tratamento quimioterápico. Método: trata-se de um estudo transversal, descritivo, com abordagem quantitativa, realizado em um ambulatório de referência em tratamento quimioterápico de Caruaru-PE, entre agosto e outubro de 2017. Participaram da pesquisa 82 pessoas com câncer em tratamento quimioterápico, utilizando-se a escala de coping religioso/espiritual breve (CRE-Breve) e a escala de esperança de Herth (EEH). Resultados: a amostra apresentou escores médios de CRE positivo (3,03 ± 0,41), e o nível de esperança foi considerado alto (42,7 pontos; ± 3,67). Verificou-se que os pacientes que tiveram classificação alta do CRET apresentaram maior média do nível de esperança de Herth (44,12 pontos). Conclusão: este estudo torna-se relevante aos profissionais de enfermagem ao encorajar cuidados que contemplem a dimensão espiritual do paciente a fim de estimular os mecanismos positivos do CRE e, consequentemente, elevar os níveis de esperança.