Cyclodextrin-based delivery systems for in vivo-tested anticancer therapies

Cyclodextrins (CDs) are naturally occurring macromolecules widely used as excipients on pharmaceutical formulations, evidencing a large spectrum of applications in the pharmaceutical industry. Their unique ability to act as molecular containers by entrapping a wide range of guest molecules in their internal cavity makes them a remarkable excipient to improve drug apparent solubility, stability, and bioavailability, and a valuable tool for the assembly of new drug delivery systems. These features are especially useful when it comes to chemotherapy, as most of the anticancer drugs present both low permeability and reduced water solubility. Therefore, guest-host inclusion complexes offer several potential advantages not only regarding the improvement of pharmaceutical formulations characteristics but also considering the reduction of drug toxic side effects. The combination of CDs with additional technologies and materials constitutes a potential strategy towards the development of advanced and multifunctional CD-based delivery systems. Paclitaxel, curcumin, camptothecin, doxorubicin, and cisplatin are among the most studied molecules with anticancer activities and have been successfully incorporated in such nanosystems. Exciting results using CDs and CD-based delivery systems have been obtained so far, paving the way towards the attainment of intelligent delivery systems to possibly address cancer therapeutics' unmet needs. In this review, a comprehensive exposition concerning in vivo-tested CD and CD-based delivery systems for anticancer therapy is undertaken. Additionally, the authors address the multivalent functionalities of CD-based delivery systems, namely the incorporation of active target ligands, stimuli-responsiveness components, surface functionalization, or further associations with other delivery systems, aiming at improved in vivo anticancer therapies. Graphical abstract.

Medidas lineares e angulares não influenciam o tipo de marcha em cavalos Campeiros

RESUMO A marcha é um andamento natural de algumas raças de equinos, o qual resulta de movimentos coordenados, e é o andamento característico dos cavalos Campeiros. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi determinar relações entre medidas lineares e angulares com o tipo de marcha dos cavalos da raça Campeiro. Foram avaliados 113 equinos adultos, sendo realizadas 12 medidas lineares e 11 angulares de cada animal. Para obtenção das medidas lineares, utilizou-se hipômetro e fita métrica, e, para as medidas angulares, artrogoniômetro e podogoniômetro. Para avaliar e classificar a marcha, os animais foram montados e filmados por vista lateral. Dos 113 animais, 36 (32%) apresentaram marcha incompleta, 74 (65%) marcha completa, e três (3%) a guinilha. Dos equinos com marcha completa, 20 (27%) apresentaram marcha batida, 14 (19%) marcha de centro e 40 (54%) marcha picada. Apenas a medida linear, altura da garupa, apresentou diferença entre os tipos de andamentos (P<0,011). Pode-se concluir que as medidas lineares e angulares dos equinos Campeiros apresentam valores similares entre as variações da marcha, demonstrando equivalente morfologia independentemente da categoria da marcha.

Cryptosporidiosis after treatment with fingolimod: a case report and pharmacovigilance review

Background

Cryptosporidium sp. are common intracellular parasites responsible of severe diarrhea in T-cell-immunocompromised patients. We report the first case of a woman who contracted cryptosporidiosis after treatment with fingolimod, a drug labeled for multiple sclerosis and responsible for marked lymphopenia.

Case presentation

A 60-year-old woman was admitted for abdominal pain diarrhea and fever. The patient suffered from multiple sclerosis and had been treated with fingolimod from august 2017 to september 2018 time of occurrence of the first digestive symptoms. Stool culture was negative but parasitological examination was positive for Cryptosporidium sp. Blood biological examination profound lymphopenia of 240/mm³ [17 CD4/mm³ (7%) and 32 CD8/mm³ (14%)]. Fingolimod was stopped, and the patient was put on nitazoxanide 500 mg bid for 7 days. The diarrhea resolved and no relapse was observed. Six other cases were found in the Pharmacovigilance database.

Conclusion

Physicians should be aware of this association and screen for Cryptosporidium in cases of diarrhea in patients treated with fingolimod. Patients should be aware of this risk and advise to take appropriate measures to avoid such contamination.

Transcriptomic resources for evolutionary studies in flat periwinkles and related species

The flat periwinkles, Littorina fabalis and L. obtusata, comprise two sister gastropod species that have an enormous potential to elucidate the mechanisms involved in ecological speciation in the marine realm. However, the molecular resources currently available for these species are still scarce. In order to circumvent this limitation, we used RNA-seq data to characterize the transcriptome of four individuals from each species sampled in different locations across the Iberian Peninsula. Four de novo transcriptome assemblies were generated, as well as a pseudo-reference using the L. saxatilis reference transcriptome as backbone. After transcripts' annotation, variant calling resulted in the identification of 19,072 to 45,340 putatively species-diagnostic SNPs. The discriminatory power of a subset of these SNPs was validated by implementing an independent genotyping assay to characterize reference populations, resulting in an accurate classification of individuals into each species and in the identification of hybrids between the two. These data comprise valuable genomic resources for a wide range of evolutionary and conservation studies in flat periwinkles and related taxa.

Phylogeographic history of flat periwinkles, Littorina fabalis and L. obtusata

Background

The flat periwinkles, Littorina fabalis and L. obtusata, are two sister species widely distributed throughout the Northern Atlantic shores with high potential to inform us about the process of ecological speciation in the intertidal. However, whether gene flow has occurred during their divergence is still a matter of debate. A comprehensive assessment of the genetic diversity of these species is also lacking and their main glacial refugia and dispersal barriers remain largely unknown. In order to fill these gaps, we sequenced two mitochondrial genes and two nuclear fragments to perform a phylogeographic analysis of flat periwinkles across their distribution range.

Results

We identified two main clades largely composed by species-specific haplotypes corresponding to L. obtusata and L. fabalis, with moderate to strong support, respectively. Importantly, a model of divergence with gene flow between the two species (from L. obtusata to L. fabalis) was better supported, both in Iberia and in northern-central Europe. Three mitochondrial clades were detected within L. fabalis and two within L. obtusata, with strong divergence between Iberia and the remaining populations. The largest component of the genetic variance within each species was explained by differences between geographic regions associated with these clades. Our data suggests that overall intraspecific genetic diversity is similar between the two flat periwinkle species and that populations from Iberia tend to be less diverse than populations from northern-central Europe.

Conclusions

The phylogeographic analysis of this sister-species pair supports divergence with gene flow. This system thus provides us with the opportunity to study the contribution of gene flow and natural selection during diversification. The distribution of the different clades suggests the existence of glacial refugia in Iberia and northern-central Europe for both species, with a main phylogeographic break between these regions. Although the genetic diversity results are not fully conclusive, the lower diversity observed in Iberia could reflect marginal conditions at the southern limit of their distribution range during the current interglacial period.

Hybridization patterns between two marine snails, Littorina fabalis and L. obtusata

Characterizing the patterns of hybridization between closely related species is crucial to understand the role of gene flow in speciation. In particular, systems comprising multiple contacts between sister species offer an outstanding opportunity to investigate how reproductive isolation varies with environmental conditions, demography and geographic contexts of divergence. The flat periwinkles, Littorina obtusata and L. fabalis (Gastropoda), are two intertidal sister species with marked ecological differences compatible with late stages of speciation. Although hybridization between the two was previously suggested, its extent across the Atlantic shores of Europe remained largely unknown. Here, we combined genetic (microsatellites and mtDNA) and morphological data (shell and male genital morphology) from multiple populations of flat periwinkles in north-western Iberia to assess the extent of current and past hybridization between L. obtusata and L. fabalis under two contrasting geographic settings of divergence (sympatry and allopatry). Hybridization signatures based on both mtDNA and microsatellites were stronger in sympatric sites, although evidence for recent extensive admixture was found in a single location. Misidentification of individuals into species based on shell morphology was higher in sympatric than in allopatric sites. However, despite hybridization, species distinctiveness based on this phenotypic trait together with male genital morphology remained relatively high. The observed variation in the extent of hybridization among locations provides a rare opportunity for future studies on the consequences of different levels of gene flow for reinforcement, thus informing about the mechanisms underlying the completion of speciation.

The impact of the economic crisis on the mental health of Portuguese primary-school children

Objective

To measure the impact of the economic crisis on the mental health correlates of Portuguese children attending primary school during 2016.

Methods

Cross-sectional analysis of primary school-aged children and their parents (n = 1157), conducted in public and private schools of three Portuguese districts. Parent reports of children mental health symptoms (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire - SDQ) and children self-reports of health-related quality of life (KIDSCREEN-27) and depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales, Children version - DASS-C), were compared according to a set of yes/no questions on how the economic crisis changed the normal aspects of routine life (e.g. During the financial crisis did you had to use savings? Started buying cheaper food?). Linear regression models were fitted for the SDQ, the KIDSCREEN-27 and the DASS-C as dependent variables adjusted for children sex, socioeconomic status and district of residence.

Results

Affirmative answers to the crisis impact questions were associated with more frequent psychosocial functioning problems in children, with poorer self-reported health-related quality of life and with more frequent symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress.

Conclusions

Portuguese children mental health correlates show significant worse scores for those whose parents declared having to change daily routine habits as a result of the recent macroeconomic financial crisis, compared to those who did not change habits. Public Health programs should be developed to mitigate the potential negative impact of the financial crisis to the mental health of children.

Key messages

A negative impact on children mental health was observed as a result of the economic crisis. Public health programs designed to mitigate the impact of the economic crisis should include primary-school aged children.

Cancer gene therapy mediated by RALA/plasmid DNA vectors: Nitrogen to phosphate groups ratio (N/P) as a tool for tunable transfection efficiency and apoptosis

Cancer gene therapy based on p53 tumor suppressor gene supplementation emerges as one of the most challenging and promising strategies. The development of a suitable gene delivery system is imperative to ensure the feasibility and viability of cancer gene therapy in a clinical setting. The conception of delivery systems based on cell- penetrating peptides may deeply contribute for the evolution of therapy efficacy. In this context, the present work explores the p53 encoding plasmid DNA (pDNA) condensation ability of RALA peptide to produce a suitable intracellular delivery platform. These carriers, formed at several nitrogen to phosphate groups (N/P) ratio, were characterized in terms of morphology, size, surface charges, loading and complexation capacity and the fine structure has been analyzed by Fourier-transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Confocal microscopy studies confirmed intracellular localization of nanoparticles, resulting in enhanced sustained pDNA uptake. Moreover, in vitro transfection of HeLa cells mediated by RALA/pDNA vectors allows for gene release and p53 protein expression. From these progresses, apoptosis in cancer cells has been investigated. It was found that N/P ratio strongly tailors gene transfection efficiency and, thus, it can be fine-tuned for desired degree of both protein expression and apoptosis. The great asset of the proposed system relies precisely on the use of N/P ratio as a tailoring parameter that can not only modulate vector´s properties but also the extent of pDNA delivery, protein expression and, consequently, the efficacy of p53 mediated cancer therapy.

A systematic review of life cycle sustainability assessment: Current state, methodological challenges, and implementation issues

The life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) is a tool to assess sustainability from a life cycle perspective, which has been receiving increased attention over the years. This work presents a systematic review of the current application of LCSA, presenting the foundations, main methods, current operationalization state, and major challenges to its broad implementation. The review protocol considered the search of keywords in Scopus and Web of Science databases. The search has considered the literature published or in the press until December 2018, resulting in the selection of 144 articles written in English. Of those, 71 articles operationalize LCSA in real case studies, while the remaining consist of review, viewpoint, and methodological development articles. This review demonstrates that the use of LCSA has been increasing in recent years. Today, the most applied approach is to consider LCSA as the sum of life cycle assessment, life cycle costing, and social life cycle assessment because it is built on the methodologies that already exist and are under continuous development. However, the lack of harmonization of the methodology is a central challenge to its operationalization. Therefore, LCSA still requires further improvement in, among others, definition of coherent system boundaries, the development of robust databases to allow the assessment of economic and social perspectives, definition of impact categories that allow comparability between studies, development of impact assessment methods, development of methods to carry out uncertainty analysis, and communication strategies. Besides, further case studies should be developed to support the improvement of the methodology and a better understanding of the interaction of the environmental, economic, and social aspects.

Optimization of peptide-plasmid DNA vectors formulation for gene delivery in cancer therapy exploring design of experiments

The field of gene therapy still attracts great interest due to its potential therapeutic effect towards the most deadly diseases, such as cancer. For cancer gene therapy to be feasible and viable in a clinical setting, the design and development of a suitable gene delivery system is imperative. Peptide based vectors, in particular, reveal to be promising for therapeutic gene release. Following this, two different peptides, RALA and WRAP5, have been investigated mainly regarding their ability to form complexes with a p53 encoding plasmid (pDNA) with suitable properties for gene delivery. To address this issue, and after an initial screening study focused on the dependence of pDNA complexation capacity with the nitrogen to phosphate groups (N/P) ratio, a design of experiments (DoE) tool has been employed. For each peptide/pDNA system, parameters such as, the buffer pH and the N/P ratio were considered the DoE inputs and the vector size, zeta potential and pDNA complexation capacity (CC) were monitored as DoE outputs. The main goal was to find the optimal experimental conditions to minimize particle sizes, as well as, to maximize the positive surface charges of the formulated nanosystems and maximize the pDNA CC. Through the DoE method applied, the optimal RALA/pDNA and WRAP5/pDNA formulations were revealed and show interesting features related to peptide structure and pDNA complexation ability. This work illustrates the great utility of experimental design tools in optimizing the formulation of peptide/pDNA vectors in a minimum number of experiments providing relevant knowledge for the development of more suitable and efficient gene delivery systems. The new insights achieved on these carriers clearly instigate deeper research on gene therapy.

Medida de Adesão Terapêutica nos Idosos: Um Estudo em Três Unidades de Cuidados de Saúde Personalizados

INTRODUÇÃO: O aumento da prevalência das doenças crónicas coloca os idosos no grupo etário mais medicado da sociedade e os problemas decorrentes da não adesão ao tratamento medicamentoso têm preocupado os profissionais de saúde. Os objetivos deste estudo foram avaliar o nível de adesão terapêutica nos idosos e a associação entre adesão e dados sociodemográficos, número de fármacos e patologias. MÉTODOS: Realizou-se um estudo transversal com 293 utentes das Unidade de Cuidados de Saúde Personalizados de Moimenta da Beira, Tarouca e Mirandela a indivíduos com idade ? 65 anos, portadores de medicação e patologias crónicas. Para a realização deste estudo foi aplicado o questionário de autopreenchimento “Medida de adesão ao tratamento” (MAT) construída por Delgado e Lima em 2001. RESULTADOS: Analisaram-se 293 questionários de utentes entre os 65-89 anos. Destes, 40,6% eram do género mas-culino e 71,3% tinham ? 4 anos de escolaridade. Os valores da MAT foram mais elevados nas faixas etárias 65-69 e 80-84 anos. Verificaram-se diferenças significativas (p = 0,001) nas medianas da MAT nos grupos com diferentes números de patologias. A mediana da MAT foi superior com significado estatístico nos homens (p = 0,003) e na UCSP Tarouca (p = 0,002). Verificaram-se diferenças com significado estatístico no valor mediano da MAT entre faixas etárias e entre níveis de escolaridade (p = 0,001). DISCUSSÃO: Há fatores que parecem influenciar a adesão terapêutica dos utentes estudados, nomeadamente género masculino. A literacia também parece ter influência. Os valores de adesão mais elevados registaram-se nos níveis superiores de escolaridade. CONCLUSÃO: Serão necessários estudos mais representativos e estudos que expliquem os motivos da não adesão à terapêutica. É importante sensibilizar a classe médica e os utentes para a importância da adesão terapêutica.

Serum proteinogram of the Campeiro horse

ABSTRACT The aim of this study to measure the fractions of the total serum proteins of the Campeiro horse and identify the influences of biological variants. Blood samples were taken in 138 horses of the breed Campeiro for measuring the concentration of total serum protein by the biuret method. Serum concentrations of protein fractions were measured by electrophoresis using agarose gel. Groups were formed according to age, sex and reproductive condition. The average values of serum fractions: albumin (2.85±0.36g/dl), alpha 1 (0.28±0.11g/dl), alpha 2 (0.26±0.08g/dL) beta 1 (0.57±0.15g/dl), beta 2 (0.89±0.28g/dL), gamaglobulinas (1.86±0.34g/dL), albumin/globulin ratio (0.75±0.18) and 2.5% percentile and 97.5% had slight differences in relation to the reference interval proposed for the species. They observed higher values of alpha 1 and 2 globulins in the group from that had six to eight years old and gammaglobulins in group above 13 years old. Serum protein concentrations were similar in horses and mares and between non-pregnant and pregnant. Sex and pregnancy status did not affect serum proteinogram. Alpha and gammaglobulins have higher values as the age increases. Serum proteinogram of Campeiro horses shows variations that have to be considered in the interpretation of laboratory tests.

A co-delivery platform based on plasmid DNA peptide-surfactant complexes: formation, characterization and release behavior

The development of delivery systems based on cell penetrating peptides represents an incredible asset and may deeply contribute for the evolution of therapies efficacy. In this context, we explore the plasmid DNA (pDNA) condensation ability of TAT peptide to produce a suitable intracellular delivery platform. The nanoparticles were formed at various ratios of nitrogen to phosphate groups (N/P) and the variation of polyplexes properties with this parameter was studied. Beyond the large size exhibited by these carriers, their low pDNA immobilization profile instigates the need for an additional compacting agent. To maximize the performance of this peptide delivery system, a series of alkyl trimethyl ammonium bromide surfactants (CnTAB) were employed to further condense pDNA. In general, not only this strategy promotes the formation of lower sized vectors, but also greatly enhances particle characteristics such as surface charge and pDNA encapsulation. The magnitude of this effect is intimately dependent on surfactant chain length. Furthermore, the known cytotoxicity of cationic surfactants has been dramatically reduced by their incorporation into TAT/pDNA complexes. The release kinetics can be tailored and optimized to promote the controlled/sustained release of pDNA. Following this, the surfactant alkyl chain length and the N/P ratio are important controlling parameters. In addition, doxorubicin and paclitaxel can be efficiently loaded and encapsulated into peptide/pDNA/surfactant carriers. The presented platform reveals a great potential for therapeutic payloads loading and controlled release open advanced and new approaches in the design/formulation of innovative biomedical systems towards clinical translation.

Effects of PCB-77 in adult zebrafish after exposure during early life stages

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a class of industrial chemicals that cause endocrine changes, since they are able to bind to estrogen receptors and interfere with estrogen-regulated processes, such as fish vitellogenesis. Therefore, the present work aimed to assess potential endocrine effects of PCB-77 exposure during zebrafish (Danio rerio) gonadal differentiation. To achieve that, zebrafish juveniles were exposed to increasing concentrations of PCB-77 for 14 days during a critical window of gonad differentiation (30-44 days post-fertilization). Vitellogenin (Vtg) levels and several endpoints such as survival, growth, gonadosomatic index (GSI) and hepatosomatic index were recorded at the end of exposure and/or after 3 months in clean medium. The results obtained showed a reduction of Vtg-like proteins in juveniles, just after exposure to PCB-77 accompanied, after 3 months, by a decrease in gonadal Vtg levels and GSI of females. These results suggest that exposure to PCB-77 during the critical window of gonadal differentiation decreased vitellogenesis in juvenile zebrafish which lasted until adulthood affecting the normal development of female gonad, which might have further implications in reproduction success.

European recommendations and quality assurance for cytogenomic analysis of haematological neoplasms

Cytogenomic investigations of haematological neoplasms, including chromosome banding analysis, fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) and microarray analyses have become increasingly important in the clinical management of patients with haematological neoplasms. The widespread implementation of these techniques in genetic diagnostics has highlighted the need for guidance on the essential criteria to follow when providing cytogenomic testing, regardless of choice of methodology. These recommendations provide an updated, practical and easily available document that will assist laboratories in the choice of testing and methodology enabling them to operate within acceptable standards and maintain a quality service.