Zeaxanthin from Porphyridium purpureum induces apoptosis in human melanoma cells expressing the oncogenic BRAF V600E mutation and sensitizes them to the BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib

Abstract Zeaxanthin, an abundant carotenoid present in fruits, vegetables and algae was reported to exert antiproliferative activity and induce apoptosis in human uveal melanoma cells. It also inhibited uveal melanoma tumor growth and cell migration in nude mice xenograft models. Here we report that zeaxanthin purified from the rhodophyte Porphyridium purpureum (Bory) K.M.Drew & R.Ross, Porphyridiaceae, promotes apoptosis in the A2058 human melanoma cell line expressing the oncogenic BRAF V600E mutation. Zeaxanthin 40 µM (IC50) induced chromatin condensation, nuclear blebbing, hypodiploidy, accumulation of cells in sub-G1 phase, DNA internucleosomal fragmentation and activation of caspase-3. Western blot analysis revealed that zeaxanthin induced up-regulation of the pro-apoptotic factors Bim and Bid and inhibition of NF-κB transactivation. Additionally, zeaxanthin sensitized A2058 melanoma cells in vitro to the cytotoxic activity of vemurafenib, a BRAF inhibitor widely used for the clinical management of melanoma, suggesting its potential interest as dietary adjuvant increasing melanoma cells sensitivity to chemotherapy.

Condições de trabalho das Equipes de Saúdeda Família do município de Petrolina-PE:percepção dos profissionais de saúde / Working conditions of Family Health Teams of the municipalityof Petrolina-PE: perceptions of health care professionals

O estudo objetiva traçar o perfil das Equipes de Saúde da Família (ESF) do município de Petrolina-PE, Brasil, quanto àscondições físico-estruturais nas quais se encontram e quanto à qualidade dos serviços de saúde prestados à população,analisando os principais problemas a serem enfrentados pelos profissionais de saúde em seu processo de trabalho. Foirealizado um estudo de caráter observacional descritivo, baseado na aplicação de um questionário semiestruturado, destinadoaos profissionais de saúde das mais diversas categorias que trabalham nas ESF do município de Petrolina. Entre osserviços disponibilizados pelo município nas ESF citados pelos profissionais, os considerados mais eficientes foram: vacinação,serviço de enfermagem e pré-natal, enquanto que a farmácia e odontologia foram consideradas os mais precários.A estrutura das unidades foi relatada como o principal problema que dificulta a execução dos serviços nas unidades (43%)e 27% dos profissionais entrevistados afirmaram que as unidades em que trabalham não conseguem atender à demanda.A escassez de profissionais, aliada à falta de equipamentos, materiais e medicamentos, acaba inviabilizando as práticasde trabalho, tornando o sistema de saúde vigente no país defasado, sobrecarregando os macrocomponentes dos níveis demédia e alta complexidade em saúde.

The study aims to evaluate the profile of ESF (Family Health Teams) in the city of Petrolina (Pernambuco, Brazil), concerningphysical and structural conditions of the ESF and concerning the quality of health services rendered to the population, byanalyzing the main problems to be faced by health professionals at work. An observational descriptive study was conductedbased on a semi-structured questionnaire intended to health professionals from several categories working at Petrolina’s ESF.Among the services provided by the municipality in the ESF, mentioned by the professionals, the ones considered as moreeffective were vaccination, nursing services and prenatal care, while pharmacy and dentistry were considered the most precarious.The units’ structure was reported by 43% of the professional as the main problem that hinders the implementation ofservices in the units and 27% said that the units in which they work cannot meet the demand. The shortage of professionalscoupled with lack of equipment, supplies and medicines preclude the working practices, lagging the current health system inthe country, overloading macrocomponents of medium and high levels of complexity in health.

In vitro antioxidant and photoprotective activities of dried extracts from Neoglaziovia variegata (Bromeliaceae).

The phytochemical screening, antioxidant and photoprotective activities of dried extracts from the leaves of Neoglaziovia variegata were investigated. It was also evaluated the total phenolic and flavonoid contents by the Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride methods, respectively. Antioxidant activities of the extracts were evaluated by using of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) radical scavenging and β-carotene-linoleic acid bleaching and compared with ascorbic acid, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) used as reference compounds. The photoprotective effect was evaluated by the spectrophotometric method. Preliminary analysis demonstrated that the extracts were found to be positive for the presence of anthracene derivatives, flavonoids, tannins, mono and diterpenes, naphthoquinones, coumarins, triterpenoids and steroids. The most significant total phenolic and flavonoid contents was of 608.50 ± 14.74 mg of gallic acid equivalent/g and 272.50 ± 9.25 mg of catechin equivalent/g, respectively, for ethyl acetate fraction (Nv-AcOEt). The Nv-AcOEt also presented the best antioxidant activity (IC50 3.51 ± 0.18 μg/ml) for DPPH scavenging. The chloroform fraction (Nv-CHCl3) and Nv-AcOEt showed characteristic absorption bands in regions UVB and UVA in a concentration-dependent manner. Nv-AcOEt presented the highest sun protection factor SPF (27. 68 ± 4.03). It shows the possibility to use this extract as sunscreen in pharmaceutical preparations.