Box-Behnken analysis and storage of spray-dried collagenolytic proteases from Myceliophthora thermophila submerged bioprocess.

Enzymes do not have long-term storage stability in soluble forms, thus drying methods could minimize the loss of enzymatic activity, the spray dryer removes water under high temperatures and little time. The aims of this study were to improve the stability of enzymatic extract from Myceliophthora thermophila for potential applications in industry and to evaluate the best conditions to remove the water by spray drying technique. The parameters were tested according to Box-Behnken and evaluated by analysis of variance (ANOVA), all the parameters measured were found to influence the final enzyme activity and spray drying process yield ranged from 38.65 to 63.75%. Enzyme powders showed increased storage stability than extract and maintained about 100% of collagenolytic activity after 180 days of storage at 30°C. The results showed that the microbial enzymes maintained activity during the spray drying process and were stable during long-term storage; these are promising characteristics for industrial applications.

Lung cancer and smoking: molecular aspects

Lung cancer (LC) is characterized as one of the most common and lethal types of cancers worldwide, with approximately 230.000 new cases each year in the US and 160.000 deaths are estimated for 2012. In Brazil, the outlook is also bleak, with 27,320 new cases expected in 2012, according to the Brazilian National Cancer Institute (INCA). LC is classified into two major histological types: small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In addition to sizable mortality and incidence, LC has low 5-year survival rates when compared to other types of common cancers such as breast and prostate, even with recent diagnostic and therapeutic advances. For the survival rate of patients with LC to increase, a greater understanding of the molecular events that lead to the emergence of this malignancy is necessary in order to identify genetic markers involved in tumor progression, and thus enable early detection and to develop new specific therapeutic strategies, allowing for a more individualized treatment in patients with LC. Different situations are classified as risk factors for the development of LC, but unquestionably, the most responsible risk factor for the high incidence of LC in the world population by far is smoking.