The Emerging Landscapes to Drug Delivery Systems for the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDA) is a highly metastatic tumor, and the liver is the first target, which restricts the use of medications. PDA is considered one of the most aggressive types of cancer in the world, with extremely short survival time, depending on the stage of diagnosis. In non-surgical cases, chemotherapy alternatives are only effective in 40% to 60% of patients. The low efficiency of treatments occurs mainly due to the complex microenvironment in PDA leading to chemoresistance to treatments and makes it difficult to access the drug. A very important histological characteristic of PDA is the extremely dense stroma, which leads to low vascularization of tumor tissue. Consequently, stroma environment causes less drug accumulation in tumor cells, even selective and/or targeted drugs. Overcoming the stroma's microenvironment is a major challenge for effective therapies that manage to get through this difficult access. Moreover, specific genes lead to direct chemoresistance of PDA, due to their high progression. In this scenario, nanotechnology appears as an alternative to overcome these clinical challenges that must be overcome concern two distinct ways: the stroma and the tumor properly. Thus, this review aimed to bring advances in the application of nanotechnology aiming to open up new landscapes against PDA. There are a huge number of nanoparticles carrying drugs in preclinical and clinical trials for the effective treatment of PDA. These works were discussed and it was proposed, based on the current scenario, the future prospects for an efficient treatment of PDA.

Production of fructooligosaccharides by Bacillus subtilis natto CCT7712 and their antiproliferative potential

AIMS

Fructooligosaccharides (FOSs) known for their health properties and β-(2→6)-levan-type FOSs have shown prebiotic and immunomodulatory activities that overcome those of commercial β-(2→1)-FOSs, but costs do not favour their use. Moreover, FOSs can reach the bloodstream through the diet, and little is known about their direct effect on cells. The aim of this work was to produce high-content FOSs by Bacillus subtilis natto CCT7712 in a bioreactor using commercial sucrose and to evaluate their antiproliferative effects in OVCAR-3 cells.

METHODS AND RESULTS

FOS production reached 173·60 g l^-1 , 0·2 vvm aeration and uncontrolled pH. Levan-type FOSs, composed of β-(2 → 6) links and mainly GF₃ (6-nystose), were identified using RMN spectroscopy, FT-IR and ESI-MS. FOSs decreased the viability and proliferation of OVCAR-3 cells, and the effects were associated with an increased pro-inflammatory response by the induction of IL-8 and TNF-α, and the repression of ER-β genes. The metabolic profiles showed disruption of cellular homeostasis that can be associated with a decrease in proliferation.

CONCLUSIONS

The high production of levan-type FOSs from B. subtilis natto CCT7712 in a bioreactor was achieved, and they showed antiproliferative potential in OVCAR-3 cells.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

FOS could be a good target for future therapeutic studies and commercial use.

A critical analysis of L-asparaginase activity quantification methods-colorimetric methods versus high-performance liquid chromatography

L-asparaginase or ASNase (L-asparagine aminohydrolase, E.C.3.5.1.1) is an enzyme clinically accepted as an antitumor agent to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and lymphosarcoma through the depletion of L-asparagine (L-Asn) resulting in cytotoxicity to leukemic cells. ASNase is also important in the food industry, preventing acrylamide formation in processed foods. Several quantification techniques have been developed and used for the measurement of the ASNase activity, but standard pharmaceutical quality control methods were hardly reported, and in general, no official quality control guidelines were defined. To overcome this lack of information and to demonstrate the advantages and limitations, this work properly compares the traditional colorimetric methods (Nessler; L-aspartic acid β-hydroxamate (AHA); and indooxine) and the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. A comparison of the methods using pure ASNase shows that the colorimetric methods both overestimate (Nessler) and underestimate (AHA and indooxine) the ASNase activity when compared to the values obtained with HPLC, considered the most precise method as this method monitors both substrate consumption and product formation, allowing for overall mass-balance. Correlation and critical analysis of each method relative to the HPLC method were carried out, resulting in a demonstration that it is crucial to select a proper method for the quantification of ASNase activity, allowing bioequivalence studies and individualized monitoring of different ASNase preparations. Graphical abstract ᅟ.

Aerobic exercise training and low-level laser therapy modulate inflammatory response and degenerative process in an experimental model of knee osteoarthritis in rats

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of an aerobic exercise training and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) (associated or not) on degenerative modifications and inflammatory mediators on the articular cartilage using an experimental model of knee OA.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Fifty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: control group (CG); knee OA control group (OAC); OA plus exercise training group (OAT); OA plus LLLT group (OAL); OA plus exercise training associated with LLLT group (OATL). The exercise training (treadmill; 16 m/min; 50 min/day) and the laser irradiation (two points-medial and lateral side of the left joint; 24 sessions) started 4 weeks after the surgery, 3 days/week for 8 weeks.

RESULTS

The results showed that all treated groups showed (irradiated or not) a better pattern of tissue organization, with less fibrillation and irregularities along the articular surface and chondrocytes organization, a lower degenerative process measured by OARSI score and higher thickness values. Additionally, all treated group showed a reduced expression in IL-1β, caspase-3 and MMP-13 compared to OAC. Moreover, a lower caspase-3 expression was observed in OATL compared to OAL and OAT.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that exercise training and LLLT were effective in preventing cartilage degeneration and modulating inflammatory process induced by knee OA.

Japanese encephalitis virus RNA detected in Culex pipiens mosquitoes in Italy

Mosquitoes collected in northern Italy were screened for flavivirus RNA. Positive amplicons were sequenced and found most similar to insect flavivirus (ISF), Usutu virus (USUV) and surprisingly also to Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). The sequence (167 bp), obtained from one pool of Culex pipiens, was found identical to JEV strains from bats in China. Unfortunately additional sequence data or virus isolations were not obtained in this study. Confirmation of potential introduction of JEV to Italy and other European countries is urgently needed.

[Surgical treatment of abdominal trauma in pediatric age]

AIM OF THE STUDY

to value the appropriateness and the efficacy of non-operative treatment in children with blunt abdominal trauma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

in this research 14 children with abdominal trauma, secondary mostly to road accidents, were studied; 9 of these had single organ injury while 5 had multiple organ injuries. Spleen has been the most injured organ (9 children), followed by liver (5 cases) and kidney (2 cases). Five children were admitted at emergency department in hypovolemic conditions, promptly corrected by resuscitative measures. All patients underwent abdominal ultrasound and/or C.T. scans in order to detect any intraperitoneal free fluid or organic injuries. Six children (43%) were followed by non-operative treatment, while other eight underwent surgery.

RESULTS

all children, those treated conservatively as well as those operated, were cured, without any important complication.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

nowadays, with the great help of ultrasound and C.T. scans, is possible to treat 40-50% of children affected by abdominal trauma with non-operative measures, with return to normal functions by the injured organs. The surgical approach is today accomplished only in presence of severe injuries or haemodynamic instability resistant to resuscitative treatment. The majority of Authors in the literature agree on the usefulness of non-operative treatment, especially for children. Regarding surgical treatment, in the near future probably we'll see a larger application of laparoscopic techniques also in the field of abdominal traumatology.

Early and Cost-Effective Identification of High Risk/Priority Control Areas in Foot-and-Mouth Disease Epidemics

Geo-referenced data from the 2001 Uruguayan foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) epidemic were explored to assess whether spatial analysis could lead to cost-benefit based policies. Four variables were analysed: (i) location and size of 4022 individual rural land parcels, of which 574 were infected over 60 days, (ii) animal density, (iii) percentage of dairy farms per county, and (iv) road density. Each variable was categorized into two to five classes (e.g. small/medium/large) and the proportion of cases per class reported at days 1-3 of the epidemic was compared with that reported at days 4-6. A higher proportion of cases was found at days 4-6 than at days 1-3 in areas with: small and medium size land parcels, high animal density, > 20% farms specialized in dairy production, and high road density (P < 0.03 for each). Each of these classes showed a greater proportion of cases at days 7-60 than the proportion of the total territory covered by each class's area (early case concentration ratios: 1.14-1.37). Land parcel clusters were indicated by Moran's I-test (P < 0.01). A new region was constructed by intersecting the four spatial classes associated with higher proportions of cases at days 4-6. At days 7-60, this region included 50.4% of all cases and represented 30.6% of the territory under study (final case concentration ratio: 1.65). The final area per case in this region was at least 33% lower and covered at least 45% less territory than any of the four single-variable approaches. Bio-statistical, multivariate spatial analysis of early cases may greatly increase the efficiency of epidemiologic policy.

Effect of alpha-adrenoreceptors in the control of spontaneous motility and morphine withdrawal syndrome

The effects of different alpha-2 agonists on the spontaneous motility in naive and morphine tolerant mice were studied. Clonidine caused a reduction at the lower (1-3 micrograms Kg-1 i.p.) and higher (100 micrograms Kg-1 i.p.) doses and no effect at 10-30 micrograms Kg-1 i.p. in naive mice, while an increase was found at the intermediate doses (10-30 micrograms Kg-1 i.p.) in morphine tolerant mice. The clonidine-induced inhibition on spontaneous motility at the lower and higher doses was prevented both in naive and tolerant mice by idazoxan pretreatment. In morphine-treated animals the increase induced by clonidine was antagonized by prazosin. The action of guanabenz and guanfacine on locomotion differed from clonidine, by producing inhibition only at higher doses (100-300 micrograms Kg-1 i.p.). Clonidine, but not guanfacine or guanabenz, prevented the withdrawal syndrome precipitated by naloxone. Thus the only alpha-2 agonistic properties do not appear sufficient to explain the prevention of morphine abstinence by clonidine in mice, which can represent a single model to screen anti-withdrawal drugs.