BackgroundEuterpe oleracea Mart., a plant from the Amazon region, is commonly known as açaí or juçara; it has high nutritional value and elevated levels of lipids, proteins, and minerals. Açaí is an abundant and much consumed fruit by the Amazon local population, and studies have demonstrated that it is rich in phytochemicals with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities. Therefore, the aim of this study was to test this plant for anticancer activity in different human malignant cell lines.MethodsCell lines derived from breast and colorectal adenocarcinomas were treated with 10, 20, and 40 μg/mL of bark, seed, and total açaí fruit hydroalcoholic extracts for 24 and 48 h. After treatment, cell viability was measured using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays, and cell morphological features were observed by light and transmission electron microscopy. The type of cell death was also evaluated. The data were analyzed statistically by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Dunnett’s or Tukey’s post hoc tests, as appropriate.ResultsWe observed that of all the cell lines tested, MCF-7 was the only line that responded to açaí treatment. The extracts caused significant reduction (p < 0.01) in cell viability and altered cell morphological features by inducing the appearance of autophagic vacuoles, as observed by transmission electron microscopy. Furthermore, increased expression of LC3BII, a protein marker of autophagosome formation, was observed by western blotting. Caspase Glo™ assays and morphologic observations by DAPI nuclear staining and transmission electron microscopy did not indicate any apoptotic events.ConclusionsThe present study demonstrated that açaí possesses antitumorigenic potential in the MCF-7 cell line. Further studies are needed to identify the compound (s) responsible for this cytotoxic activity and the molecular target in the cell. This discovery of the anticancer potential of açaí may help in the development of chemopreventive drugs and may have therapeutic effects in the treatment of breast cancer.
O câncer de colo uterino é o segundo câncer feminino mais comum no Brasil. O papilomavírus humano (HPV) é causa necessária para seu desenvolvimento. A vacina surge como uma arma contra a infecção por HPV e, consequentemente, contra o câncer. Mas existem mais de 100 genótipos diferentes de HPV, que são divididos em baixo risco e alto risco, de acordo com o potencial oncogênico. Analisam-se os aspectos epidemiológicos e biomoleculares da infecção por HPV na mucosa genital de mulheres qui-lombolas, verificando a associação os achados citológicos e biomoleculares e observando a frequência do papilomavírus nessa população e de seus tipos, para avaliar a aplicabilidade da vacina na população em estudo. A população deste estudo é de 101 mulheres pertencentes à comunidade quilombola de Ju-çatuba, no estado do Maranhão. Foram coletadas amostras de mucosa genital, submetidas à pesquisa para a presença do HPV pela técnica de PCR Nested. As amostras positivas foram sequenciadas para fins de genotipagem viral. Em uma população predominante de mulheres em idade fértil, com parceiro fixo e baixo nível de escolaridade, verificou-se que 10 amostras da cérvice uterina foram positivas paraHPV, sendo 7 positivas para os tipos de alto risco. Mediante a presença dos tipos virais de alta oncoge-nicidade, observa-se a necessidade de implementação de condutas gestoras para redução do risco de aparecimento de câncer do colo do útero.Palavras-chave: Papilomavírus humano. Câncer. Colo uterino. Reação em cadeia da polimerase.CANCER OF THE CERVIX, GENOTYPING OF HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS (HPV) IN QUILOMBOLA WOMEN IN A BRAZILIAN CITY: ACCEPTABILITY OF THE VACCINE.ABSTRACT: Cervical cancer is the second most common female cancer in Brazil. The human papilloma-virus (HPV) is a need cause for its development. The vaccine appears as a weapon against HPV infection and therefore against cancer. But there are more than 100 different HPV genotypes, which are divided into low risk and high risk according to the oncogenic potential. To analyze the epidemiological and biomolecu-lar aspects of HPV infection in the genital mucosa of women Maroons, verifying the association cytological and molecular biological findings and noting the frequency of this population papillomavirus and its types, to evaluate the applicability of the vaccine in the study population. The study population was 101 women belonging to the maroon community of Juçatuba in the state of Maranhão. Genital mucosa samples were collected and submitted to search for the presence of HPV by PCR Nested. The positive samples were sequenced for the purpose of viral genotyping. In a predominant population of women of childbearing age, with a steady partner, and low level of education, it was found that 10 samples of uterine cervix were positive for HPV, with 7 positive for high-risk types. Through the presence of viral types of high tumorige-nicity, there is a need to implement management practices for reducing the risk of developing cancer of the cervix.KEYWORDS: Human Papillomavirus. Cancer. Cervix. Polymerase Chain Reaction.EL CÁNCER DEL CUELLO UTERINO, LA GENOTIPIFICACIÓN DEL VIRUS DEL PAPILOMA HUMANO (VPH) EN MUJERES QUILOMBOLAS EN UNA CIUDAD BRASILEÑA: LA ACEPTABILIDAD DE LA VACUNA.RESUMEN: El cáncer cervical es el segundo cáncer femenino más común en Brasil. El virus del papiloma humano (VPH) es la causa necesaria para su desarrollo. La vacuna se presenta como un arma contra la infección por VPH y, por tanto, contra el cáncer. Pero hay más de 100 genotipos diferentes de VPH, que se dividen en bajo riesgo y de alto riesgo de acuerdo con el potencial oncogénico. Analizar los aspectos epidemiológicos y biomoleculares de la infección por el VPH en la mucosa genital de la mujer cimarrones, la verificación de la citología asociación y hallazgos de biología molecular y tomando nota de la frecuen-cia de este virus del papiloma de la población y sus tipos, para evaluar la aplicabilidad de la vacuna en la población de estudio. La populación de estudio fue de 101 mujeres pertenecientes a la comunidad marrón de Juçatuba en el Estado de Maranhão. Se recogieron muestras de mucosa genital presentados para buscar la presencia de VPH por PCR anidada. Las muestras positivas se secuenciaron con el propósito de determinación del genotipo viral . RESULTADOS: En una población predominante de las mujeres en edad fértil, con una pareja estable, y el bajo nivel de la educación, se encontró que 10 muestras fueron positivas para el VPH cervical, 7 siendo positivo para los tipos de alto riesgo. A través de la presencia de tipos virales de alta tumorigenicidad, hay una necesidad de aplicar prácticas de gestión para reducir el riesgo de desarrollar cáncer de la cérvix.PALABRAS CLAVE: Virus del papiloma humano. Cáncer. Cérvix. Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa.
Background. Flavonoids from a variety of fruits, including açaí, have beneficial antioxidant activity in several diseases, including cancer. Breast cancer is the second most prevalent cancer among Brazilian women. Studies have shown the action of flavonoids on neoplastic cells, as well as on diabetes and neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases. Objective. To analyze the relationship between the consumption of açaí and the presence of chronic diseases in women residing in the rural area of São Luís, Maranhão. Methods. A convenience sample of 150 women residing in the Maracanã neighborhood in São Luís, Maranhão, was used; the collected data included sociodemographic characteristics, habits, sexual and reproductive history, consumption of açaí, and history of cancer and other chronic diseases. The sample was divided into women who consumed açaí at least once a week (cases) and women who did not consume açaí (controls). Statistical analysis was performed to assess the relationships between those variables and the consumption of açaí. Results. A total of 141 women (94%) consumed açaí. Among these, 79.3% were aged between 20 and 50 years, 78.67% were farmers or housewives, 64.67% were Pardo (mixed race), 76.67% were nonsmokers, 70% were not receiving hormonal therapy, 40.67% had already undergone mammography, 28% had already undergone breast ultrasound, and 27.33% had a family history of cancer, with breast cancer being the second most prevalent cancer. There was a higher prevalence of hypertension among women who did not consume açaí than that among those who did; however, previous cancer, family history of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes were more prevalent among the consumers of açaí. There were no statistically significant relationships. Conclusion. Flavonoids are known to have a beneficial effect on some types of neoplastic cells and other diseases; therefore, larger studies are necessary to better evaluate the beneficial effects of consuming foods containing flavonoids on these diseases.
BackgroundFamilial cancer includes some types of cancer aggregation without a well-defined inheritance pattern. Cancer genetics is an essential component of clinical practice in oncology. In Brazil, breast cancer is the leading cause of death in women. In Maranhão, studies on genetic predisposition are necessary to investigate the incidence and mortality rates. The aim of this study was to investigate familial cancer among relatives of women who died of breast cancer in São Luís, Brazil, constructing a pedigree to identify families with a hereditary predisposition, an important step in the early diagnosis of malignant tumors.MethodsThe city of São Luís is located on the Island of Maranhão, northeastern Brazil, with a population of 997,098 inhabitants mainly comprising blacks and mulattoes, including descendants of runaway slaves from the Amazon region itself. Data for pedigree construction were obtained from the records of 54 patients seen at the Aldenora Bello Institute of Oncology, São Luís, between 2000 and 2007, as well as by interview with relatives of the patients.ResultsThe mean patient age at diagnosis was 39.5 years. Most women were mulattoes (36/54, 66.6 %). A history of cancer was observed in 18 families, with 16 families possessing cases of cancer among first-degree relatives and five among second-degree relatives.ConclusionA concentration of cancer cases was found in families of patients diagnosed until the age of 40, a finding demonstrating the importance of a family history prior to genetic counseling.
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