ABSTRACT
Previous studies suggested that certain plants, such as guarana (Paullinia cupana), exert a protective effect against cancer-related fatigue in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. However, guarana possesses bioactive molecules, such as caffeine and catechin, which may affect the pharmacological properties of antitumor drugs. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of guarana on breast cancer cell response to 7 chemotherapeutic agents currently used in the treatment of breast cancer. To perform this study, MCF-7 breast cancer cells were cultured under controlled conditions and exposed to 1, 5 and 10 µg/ml guarana concentrations, with and without chemotherapeutics (gemcitabine, vinorelbine, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil, paclitaxel, doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide). The effect of these treatments on MCF-7 cell viability and proliferation was spectrophotometrically analyzed with the MTT assay. The main results demonstrated an antiproliferative effect of guarana at concentrations of 5 and 10 µg/ml and a significant effect on chemotherapeutic drug action. In general, guarana improved the antiproliferative effect of chemotherapeutic agents, causing a decrease of >40% in cell growth after 72 h of exposure. The results suggested an interaction of guarana with the chemotherapeutic drugs, which requires confirmation by in vivo complementary studies.
ABSTRACT
O choque é uma síndrome caracterizada pela redução da perfusão tecidual sistêmica, levando a disfunção orgânica. É essencial o reconhecimento precoce para correção das disfunções e diagnóstico e tratamento da causa de base.
Shock is a syndrome characterized for the reduction of the systemic tissue perfusion. It leads to global organic dysfunction. Early recognition is essential for dysfunctions correction and to diagnosis and treat the basic cause.
Subject(s)
Humans , Anaphylaxis , Shock, Cardiogenic , Shock, HemorrhagicABSTRACT
Complications involving the central nervous system in patients suffering from hepatitis C virus (HCV) infectionhave been rare. Among them, it appears the transverse myelitis, which has already been reported in likely association with HCV. This paper presents the case study of a 65-year-old woman who developed cervical transverse myelitis linked to chronic HCV infection and anti-HCV antibodies in the spinal fluid, being excluded other etiologies for transverse myelitis. Current evidence has reinforced the likely association between chronic HCV infection and transverse myelitis, especially as recurrent manifestations of the disease. These findings reveal the need for more searching to establish the causal relationship between transverse myelitis and hepatitis C.
Subject(s)
Aged , Female , Humans , Hepatitis C, Chronic/complications , Myelitis, Transverse/etiology , Fatal Outcome , Hepatitis C, Chronic/diagnosis , Myelitis, Transverse/diagnosisABSTRACT
Complications involving the central nervous system in patients suffering from hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have been rare. Among them, it appears the transverse myelitis, which has already been reported in likely association with HCV. This paper presents the case study of a 65-year-old woman who developed cervical transverse myelitis linked to chronic HCV infection and anti-HCV antibodies in the spinal fluid, being excluded other etiologies for transverse myelitis. Current evidence has reinforced the likely association between chronic HCV infection and transverse myelitis, especially as recurrent manifestations of the disease. These findings reveal the need for more searching to establish the causal relationship between transverse myelitis and hepatitis C.
Subject(s)
Hepatitis C, Chronic/complications , Myelitis, Transverse/etiology , Aged , Fatal Outcome , Female , Hepatitis C, Chronic/diagnosis , Humans , Myelitis, Transverse/diagnosisABSTRACT
O câncer adrenocortical (CAC) é um tumor raro com um prognóstico reservado. O CAC pode ser diagnosticado pela investigação de síndromes endócrinas, de sintomas devido ao crescimento tumoral ou de incidentaloma adrenal. A investigação hormonal demonstra na maioria dos CACs uma hipersecreção esteroidal, mas a característica dominante é uma co-secreção de cortisol e de andrógenos. A TC mostra um tumor heterogêneo e grande. Os tumores restritos à glândula adrenal têm uma evolução melhor do que tumores invasivos e metastáticos. A remoção completa do tumor é o tratamento de escolha. Nos pacientes com doença metastática ou progressiva, o tratamento com mitotano deve ser iniciado. Este relato de caso tem o intuito de demonstrar a importância do correto diagnóstico de lesões tumorais, pois têm grande influência no tratamento e prognóstico dos pacientes
Adrenocortical cancer (ACC) is a rare malign tumor with a poor prognosis. ACC can be diagnosed by the investigation of endocrine syndromes, signs and symptoms due to tumor growth or an adrenal incidentaloma. Hormonal investigations demonstrate in most ACC steroid oversecretion, but dominant characteristic being a co-secretion of cortisol and androgens. The CT shows a large heterogeneous tumor. Tumors localized to the adrenal gland have a better outcome than invasive and metastatic tumors. The complete tumor removal is the treatment of choice. In patients with metastatic or progressive disease, the treatment with mitotano must be initiated. This case has intention to demonstrate the importance of the correct diagnosis of tumors, therefore it has great influence in the treatment and prognosis of the patients
