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.

Profile of non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents: interface with impulsiveness and loneliness

Abstract Objective: Comprehend the profile and prevalence of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in adolescents and its association with impulsiveness and loneliness. Methods: Cross-sectional study carried out in 2017 in Maceió-Alagoas, Northeast Brazil, in the households of 505 adolescents aged 12-17 years, using a sample stratified and randomized by gender and neighborhood. The following instruments were used: a sociodemographic questionnaire, Brazilian version of Functional Assessment of Self-Mutilation (FASM), the Brazilian Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11), and the Brazilian Loneliness Scale (UCLA-BR). Results: A prevalence of 6.53% was found for non-suicidal self-injury disorder (DSM-5). Significant differences ( p ≤ 0.05) were observed regarding: the most frequently used forms of NSSI were the items "cut oneself" and "scratch oneself"; engaging in three or more different forms of self-injurious behavior (66.67%) and, reporting as reasons, "to relieve feelings of emptiness or indifference" and "to stop bad feelings/sensations." Significance was also related to the sociodemographic profile: 72.73% were females and 63.54% had family income below one minimum wage. Individuals with self-injurious behavior also had higher impulsiveness and loneliness scores (p ≤ 0.05). Conclusions: The study identified a direct association between NSSI and impulsiveness and loneliness among adolescents, being more prevalent in females and in young individuals with socioeconomic vulnerability. The data provide support for improving public health policies, aimed at education, prevention, and treatment of adolescents with NSSI.

Profile of non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents: interface with impulsiveness and loneliness.

OBJECTIVE: Comprehend the profile and prevalence of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in adolescents and its association with impulsiveness and loneliness. METHODS: Cross-sectional study carried out in 2017 in Maceió-Alagoas, Northeast Brazil, in the households of 505 adolescents aged 12-17 years, using a sample stratified and randomized by gender and neighborhood. The following instruments were used: a sociodemographic questionnaire, Brazilian version of Functional Assessment of Self-Mutilation (FASM), the Brazilian Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11), and the Brazilian Loneliness Scale (UCLA-BR). RESULTS: A prevalence of 6.53% was found for non-suicidal self-injury disorder (DSM-5). Significant differences ( p ≤ 0.05) were observed regarding: the most frequently used forms of NSSI were the items "cut oneself" and "scratch oneself"; engaging in three or more different forms of self-injurious behavior (66.67%) and, reporting as reasons, "to relieve feelings of emptiness or indifference" and "to stop bad feelings/sensations." Significance was also related to the sociodemographic profile: 72.73% were females and 63.54% had family income below one minimum wage. Individuals with self-injurious behavior also had higher impulsiveness and loneliness scores (p ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The study identified a direct association between NSSI and impulsiveness and loneliness among adolescents, being more prevalent in females and in young individuals with socioeconomic vulnerability. The data provide support for improving public health policies, aimed at education, prevention, and treatment of adolescents with NSSI.

Factors associated with vocal health and quality of life in teachers/professors / Fatores associados à saúde vocal e a qualidade de vida em professores

ABSTRACT Purpose: to analyze the association of self-reported vocal symptoms with personal, occupational and clinical aspects and relate them to the quality of life of teachers/professors of the federal network of vocational and technological education. Methods: study carried out with 157 teachers from a federal public institution of vocational and technological education, who answered the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQOL-bref), Quality of Life in the Voice (V-RQOL) questionnaire and a data form (on social information, health conditions, vocal symptoms, habits, organization and working environment). Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-square test. Results: 29% of the teachers presented vocal symptoms. The prevalent complaints were dry throat (38.2%), cough (37.6%) and hoarseness (30.6%). There was a higher prevalence of symptoms in females. For the WHOQOL-bref, the average was 71.3 points, which is considered regular. The domain with the highest score was the psychological one with 75.3. Regarding V-RQOL, the average score in the global domain was 92.5 points, and the physical score was the most compromised one. 90.5% of teachers showed low voice impact on quality of life. Conclusion: although these teachers present vocal complaints, they do not reflect in the limitation of the quality of life.

RESUMO Objetivo: analisar a associação de sintomas vocais autorreferidos com aspectos pessoais, ocupacionais, clínicos e relacionar com a qualidade de vida de professores da rede federal de ensino profissional e tecnológico. Métodos: estudo com 157 docentes de uma instituição pública federal de educação profissional e tecnológica, que responderam aos questionários World Health Organization Quality Of Life/bref (WHOQOL-bref), Qualidade de Vida em Voz (QVV) e o formulário de dados (sociais, condições de saúde, sintomas vocais, hábitos, organização e ambiente de trabalho). A análise estatística foi realizada por meio do teste Qui-quadrado. Resultados: 29% dos professores apresentaram sintomas vocais. As queixas prevalentes foram garganta seca (38,2%), tosse (37,6%) e rouquidão (30,6%). Houve maior prevalência dos sintomas no sexo feminino. Para o WHOQOL-bref, a média foi 71,3 pontos, considerada regular. O domínio com maior pontuação foi o psicológico com 75,3. Quanto ao QVV, o escore médio no domínio global foi de 92,5 pontos, sendo o físico o mais comprometido. 90,5% dos docentes apresentaram baixo impacto da voz na qualidade de vida. Conclusão: embora os docentes apresentem queixas vocais, elas não se refletem na limitação da qualidade de vida.

Integrative review of literature: nursing care to aged people with HIV.

OBJECTIVE: To identify evidences in scientific Brazilian literature on nursing care to aged people with HIV. METHOD: Integrative review of literature from databases: Latin American and Caribbean Literature on Health Sciences (LILACS), Scientific Eletronic Library Online (SciELO), Cochrane and the Nursing Database (BDENF). The applied inclusion criteria were publications that were fully available from 2001 to 2015 and answered to the guiding question of this study. RESULTS: We included 13 studies; and the categories that allowed a better presentation of the scientific evidence on nursing care to aged people with HIV carrier were: Epidemiological profile, perceptions and experiences of aged people with HIV and nursing care to aged people with HIV. CONCLUSION: The studies address nursing care from a clinic that follows NANDA diagnoses of strong individualizing approach and low consideration of social aspects.

Integrative review of literature: nursing care to aged people with HIV / Revisión integrativa de la literatura: asistencia de enfermería a la persona anciana con VIH / Revisão integrativa da literatura: assistência de enfermagem a pessoa idosa com HIV

ABSTRACT Objective: To identify evidences in scientific Brazilian literature on nursing care to aged people with HIV. Method: Integrative review of literature from databases: Latin American and Caribbean Literature on Health Sciences (LILACS), Scientific Eletronic Library Online (SciELO), Cochrane and the Nursing Database (BDENF). The applied inclusion criteria were publications that were fully available from 2001 to 2015 and answered to the guiding question of this study. Results: We included 13 studies; and the categories that allowed a better presentation of the scientific evidence on nursing care to aged people with HIV carrier were: Epidemiological profile, perceptions and experiences of aged people with HIV and nursing care to aged people with HIV. Conclusion: The studies address nursing care from a clinic that follows NANDA diagnoses of strong individualizing approach and low consideration of social aspects.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Identificar en la literatura brasileña las evidencias científicas sobre la asistencia de enfermería al anciano portador del VIH. Método: Revisión integrativa de la literatura, realizada en las bases de datos: Literatura Latinoamericana y del Caribe en Ciencias de la Salud (LILACS), Scientific Eletronic Library Online (SciELO), Cochrane y la Base de Datos en enfermería (BDENF). Los criterios de inclusión aplicados fueron las publicaciones que estuvieron disponibles en la versión completa, en el período de 2001 a 2015, y que respondiera la cuestión orientadora del estudio. Resultados: Fueron incluidos 13 estudios; y las categorías que permitieron una mejor presentación de las evidencias científicas sobre la asistencia de enfermería al anciano portador del VIH, fueron: El Perfil epidemiológico, las percepciones y las vivencias de los ancianos portadores de VIH y la Asistencia de enfermería delante el anciano seropositivo. Conclusión: Los estudios abordan la asistencia de enfermería todavía a través de una clínica basada en los diagnósticos de NANDA con fuerte abordaje individualizante y baja consideración de los aspectos sociales.

RESUMO Objetivo: Identificar na literatura brasileira as evidências científicas sobre a assistência de enfermagem ao idoso portador do HIV. Método: Revisão integrativa da literatura, realizada nas bases de dados: Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (LILACS), Scientific Eletronic Library Online (SciELO), Cochrane e a Base de Dados em Enfermagem (BDENF). Os critérios de inclusão aplicados foram publicações que estivessem disponíveis na íntegra, no período de 2001 a 2015, e que respondesse a questão norteadora do estudo. Resultados: Foram incluídos 13 estudos; e as categorias que permitiram uma melhor apresentação das evidências científicas sobre a assistência de enfermagem ao idoso portador do HIV, foram: Perfil epidemiológico, percepções e vivências dos idosos portadores de HIV e Assistência de enfermagem frente ao idoso soropositivo. Conclusão: Os estudos abordam a assistência de enfermagem ainda através de uma clínica baseada nos diagnósticos da NANDA com forte abordagem individualizante e baixa consideração dos aspectos sociais.

Brazilian red propolis: phytochemical screening, antioxidant activity and effect against cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: The implementation of new public healthcare models that stimulate the use of natural products from traditional medicine, as a so-called integrated medicine, refers to an approach that use best of both conventional medicine and traditional medicine. Propolis is a widely used natural product by different ancient cultures and known to exhibit biological activities beneficial for health. The large number of studies conducted with propolis had shown that its chemical composition differs as a function of the climate, plant diversity and bee species and plays an important role on its therapeutic properties. The aim of this study was to analyse the phytochemical profile of the ethanolic extract of red propolis (EEP) and its fractionation, antioxidant action of EEP and its fractions hexane, cloroform and ethyl acetate and cytotoxic activity of EEP on human tumour cell lines SF-295 (glioblastoma), OVCAR-8 (ovary) and HCT-116 (colon). METHODS: EEP was obtained by maceration with absolute ethanol, then it was concentrated in rotaevaporator up to complete evaporation of the solvent. The crude extract was fractionated with hexane, ethyl acetate, chloroform and methanol and they were subjected to phytochemical screening and total phenolic compounds. Antioxidant activity of EEP and fractions was done by means of the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) method. Biomarkers of red propolis were identified by LC-Orbitrap-FTMS. To assess cytotoxic activity of the extract, cells were exposed to EEP over 72 h. Cell viability was assessed by means of MTT assay. The percentage of cell growth inhibition (IC50) was analysed by means of non-linear regression, and the absorbance values of the various investigated concentrations were subjected to one-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey's or Tamhane's tests (α = 0.05). RESULTS: The results obtained using phytochemical screening and LC-Orbitrap-FTMS indicated the presence of phlobaphene tannins, catechins, chalcones, aurones, flavonones, flavonols, xanthones, pentacyclic triterpenoids and guttiferones in Brazilian red propolis. EEP and its hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions obtained by liquid-liquid partitioning exhibited satisfactory antioxidant percentages. EEP (IC50 < 34.27 µg/mL) exhibited high levels of cytotoxicity on all human tumour cell lines tested when compared to negative control. CONCLUSIONS: C-Orbitrap-FTMS was useful to establish the chemical profile of the red propolis. Brazilian red propolis has antioxidant properties and decreases substantially the percentage of cell survival of human tumour cells; thus, it has potential to serve as an anticancer drug.

Synthetic chalcone derivatives as inhibitors of cathepsins K and B, and their cytotoxic evaluation.

A series of chalcone derivatives, 1-15, were prepared by Claisen-Schmidt condensation and evaluated for their cytotoxicities on tumor cell lines and also against proteolytic enzymes such as cathepsins B and K. Of the compounds synthesized, (E)-3-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-phenylprop-2-en-1-one (12), (E)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-phenylprop-2-en-1-one (13), (E)-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-phenylprop-2-en-1-one (14), and (E)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-1-phenylprop-2-en-1-one (15) showed significant cytotoxicities. The most effective compound was 15, which showed high cytotoxic activity with an IC50 value lower than 1 µg/ml, and no selectivity on the tumor cells evaluated. Substituents at C(4) of ring B were found to be essential for cytotoxicity. In addition, it was also demonstrated that some of these chalcones are moderate inhibitors of cathepsin K and have no activity against cathepsin B.

Effect of the extract of Ricinus communis L. on the osmotic fragility, labeling of red blood cells with Technetium-99m and morphology of the cells

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the proteic extract of R. communis on the cell physiology by the osmotic fragility, labeling of the blood elements with the 99mTc and cell morphology. To evaluate the osmotic fragility, the blood samples of the Wistar rats were incubated with the concentrations of R. communis and with the solutions of NaCl (0.4; 0.7; 0.9 percent). In the labeling of the blood elements procedure, the rat blood was treated with a solution of Tc-99m and TCA at 5 percent, determining the rate of radioactivity ( percentATI) in the plasma (P) and in the red blood cells (RBC). The soluble and insoluble fractions of the plasma were also evaluated. The cells morphology submitted to the extract was evaluated by the optical microscopy (x40). The results indicated that the rate of the hemolysis increased in the presence of 0.125 mg/mL of the extract. There was a decay of 49.69 percent in the rate of ATI in the insoluble fraction of the cells, with the morphological alterations in the red blood cells. These results suggested that the extract changed the capability of binding of the red blood cells due to the stannous ion oxidation, modifying the cells structure.

Produtos naturais são usados freqüentemente por muitas pessoas no tratamento do câncer. O Ricinus communis L é uma Euforbiaceae que apresenta propriedades laxativas, purgativas e antitumorais. O objetivo deste trabalho é estudar a influência da fração protéica do extrato hidroalcoólico de R. communis L. na fisiologia celular através da fragilidade osmótica, da marcação de elementos sanguíneo com 99mTc e da morfologia celular. Para avaliar a fragilidade osmótica, amostras de sangue de ratos Wistar foram incubadas com concentrações de R. communis e com soluções de NaCl (0,4; 0,7; 0,9 por cento). No procedimento de marcação de elementos sanguíneos, as amostras de sangue foram tratadas com solução de Tc-99m e TCA à 5 por cento, determinando o percentual de radioatividade ( por centoATI) no plasma (P) e nas células vermelhas (RBC); as frações solúvel e insolúvel do plasma também foram avaliadas. A morfologia das células submetidas ao extrato foi avaliada por microscopia óptica (x40). Os resultados indicam que o extrato na concentração de 0,125 mg/mL provoca hemólise de 49,69 por cento , no por cento ATI na fração insolúvel das células, ocorrendo alterações morfológicas das células sangüíneas. Esses resultados sugerem que o extrato radiomodifica a ligação do 99mTc às células vermelhas. Isto pode ser devido à oxidação do íon estanoso, a um processo de competição com os sítios de ligação do 99mTc ou por modificação das estruturas da membrana.