Chemical composition and biological activities of the essential oils from Lippia alba and Lippia origanoides.

There is an increasing interest in essential oils extracted from Verbenaceae plant species as potential sources of biologically active compounds that could provide a starting point for designing novel phyto-pharmaceuticals in aquaculture. The present study was aimed to investigate the chemical composition, antioxidant activity, acute toxicity and antimicrobial effects against Vibrio parahaemolyticus of essential oils extracted from Lippia alba and L. origanoides. Approximately 23 components were identified and quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and flame ionization detection in each species' essential oil. The most predominant compounds were geranial (23.0%), limonene (17.0%) and neral (15.5%) in L. alba, and thymol (47.2%), p-cymene (16.0%) and E-caryophyllene (11.3%) in L. origanoides. The essential oils have antibacterial activity against Vibrio parahaemolyticus presenting Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) values between 156-625 µg mL-1. The essential oils also show antioxidant potential estimated by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assays, presenting IC50 of 60.16 mg mL-1 and 0.22 mg mL-1 for L. alba and L. origanoides EO, respectively. Both oils were classified as toxic to Artemia salina nauplii. Therefore, these essential oils may be useful for controlling pathogenic bacteria important to the aquaculture industry.

Mirna21 Expression in the Breast Cancer Tumor Tissue is Independent of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy.

INTRODUCTION: MicroRNA-21 (miRNA-21) has been described as one of the most significantly upregulated miRNAs in human breast cancer. However, limited knowledge exists on miRNA-21 expression in breast cancer tissue after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess miRNA-21 expression in the tumor tissues of Brazilian patients with breast cancer who underwent NAC and its correlation with clinicopathological variables. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Utilizing qRT-PCR, miRNA-21 expression in tumor tissue was measured in a cohort of female patients with breast cancer who underwent NAC. The correlation of miRNA-21 expression with breast cancer molecular subtypes and other clinicopathological variables was also assessed. RESULTS: A total of 55 patients were included in the study, and 28 (50.9%) underwent NAC. miRNA-21 was upregulated in patients with breast cancer, regardless of previous exposure to chemotherapy, molecular subtypes, tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging and lymph node status of the axilla. miRNA-21 expression did not differ between patients with breast cancer who achieved a pathologic complete response after NAC and healthy controls. CONCLUSION: miRNA-21 was upregulated in the tumor tissue of Brazilian patients with breast cancer regardless of NAC treatment, which reinforces its role as an "oncomiR" and a potential biomarker.

Alterações da histoarquitetura pulmonar de camundongos neonatos expostos à hiperóxia / Alterations in the pulmonary histoarchitecture of neonatal mice exposed to hyperoxia

OBJETIVOS: Analisar os efeitos da exposição à hiperóxia (100% de oxigênio) sobre a histoarquitetura pulmonar de camundongos neonatos. MÉTODOS: Camundongos neonatos da linhagem Balb/c foram expostos à hiperóxia (GH) (100% de oxigênio) (n = 10) em uma câmara (15 x 20 x 30 cm) por 24 horas, com fluxo de 2 L/min. O grupo controle (GC) (n = 10) foi exposto a normóxia em um mesmo tipo de câmara e pelo mesmo tempo. Após a exposição, os animais foram sacrificados por decapitação, os pulmões foram removidos para análise histológica e processados de acordo com a rotina do laboratório. Cortes de 3 µm de espessura foram corados com hematoxilina e eosina (H&E). A análise morfométrica foi realizada com o objetivo de analisar macrófagos presentes na luz alveolar, densidade de superfície (Sv) de trocas gasosas, densidade de volume (Vv) de parênquima pulmonar e áreas de atelectasias. RESULTADOS: Foi verificada diminuição do número de macrófagos alveolares (MØ) no GH (GH = 0,08±0,01 MØ/mm²; GC = 0,18±0,03 MØ/mm²; p = 0,0475), Sv de troca gasosa no GH (GH = 8,08 ± 0,12 mm² /mm³; GC = 8,65 ± 0,20 mm² /mm³; p = 0,0233), Vv de parênquima pulmonar no GH (GH = 54,7/33,5/83,5 %/mm²; GC = 75/56,7/107,9 %/mm²; p < 0.0001) quando comparado com o GC. Entretanto, houve aumento de áreas de atelectasias no GH (GH = 17,5/11,3/38,4 atelectasia/mm²; GC = 14/6,1/24,4 atelectasia/mm²; p = 0,0166) quando comparado com o GC. CONCLUSÃO: Nossos resultados indicam que a hiperóxia promoveu alterações na histoarquitetura pulmonar, aumentando áreas de atelectasia e hemorragia alveolar difusa.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the effects of exposure to hyperoxia (100% oxygen) on the lung histoarchitecture of neonatal mice. METHODS: Neonatal Balb/c mice were exposed to hyperoxia (HG) (100% oxygen) (n = 10) in a chamber (15 x 20 x 30 cm) for 24 horas ours with a flow of 2 L/min. The control group (CG) (n = 10) was exposed to normoxia in the same type of chamber and for the same time. After exposure, the animals were euthanized by decapitation; the lungs were removed and processed for histological examination according to the laboratory routine. Three-mm thick sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). The morphometric analysis was performed with in order to analyze the macrophages present in the alveolar lumen, surface density (Sv) of gas exchange, volume density (Vv) of lung parenchyma, and areas of atelectasis. RESULTS: A decrease in the number of alveolar macrophages (MØ) was observed in the HG (HG = 0.08±0.01 MØ/mm², CG = 0.18±0.03 MØ/mm², p = 0.0475), Sv of gas exchange in HG (HG = 8.08±0.12 mm² /mm³, CG = 8.65±0.20 mm² /mm³, p = 0.0233), Vv of lung parenchyma in HG (HG = 54.7/33.5/83.5%/ mm²; CG = 75/56.7/107.9%/mm², p < 0.0001) when compared with the CG. However, there was an increase in areas of atelectasis in HG (HG = 17.5/11.3/38.4 atelectasis/mm², CG = 14/6.1/24.4 atelectasis/mm², p = 0.0166) when compared with the CG. CONCLUSION: The present results indicate that hyperoxia caused alterations in lung histoarchitecture, increasing areas of atelectasis and diffuse alveolar hemorrhage.

Alterations in the pulmonary histoarchitecture of neonatal mice exposed to hyperoxia.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the effects of exposure to hyperoxia (100% oxygen) on the lung histoarchitecture of neonatal mice. METHODS: Neonatal Balb/c mice were exposed to hyperoxia (HG) (100% oxygen) (n= 10) in a chamber (15 x 20 x 30 cm) for 24 hours with a flow of 2 L/min. The control group (CG) (n = 10) was exposed to normoxia in the same type of chamber and for the same time. After exposure, the animals were euthanized by decapitation; the lungs were removed and processed for histological examination according to the laboratory routine. Three-mm thick sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). The morphometric analysis was performed with in order to analyze the macrophages present in the alveolar lumen, surface density (Sv) of gas exchange, volume density (Vv) of lung parenchyma, and areas of atelectasis. RESULTS: A decrease in the number of alveolar macrophages (MØ) was observed in the HG (HG = 0.08 ±0.01 MØ/mm(2), CG = 0.18 ± 0.03 MØ/mm(2), p=0.0475), Sv of gas exchange in HG (HG = 8.08 ± 0.12 mm(2)/mm(3), CG=8.65 ± 0.20mm(2)/mm(3), p = 0.0233), Vv of lung parenchyma in HG (HG = 54.7/33.5/83.5%/mm(2); CG = 75/56.7/107.9%/mm(2), p<0.0001) when compared with the CG. However, there was an increase in areas of atelectasis in HG (HG = 17.5/11.3/38.4 atelectasis/mm(2), CG = 14/6.1/24.4 atelectasis/mm(2), p=0.0166) when compared with the CG. CONCLUSION: The present results indicate that hyperoxia caused alterations in lung histoarchitecture, increasing areas of atelectasis and diffuse alveolar hemorrhage.