Progress on Phage Display Technology: Tailoring Antibodies for Cancer Immunotherapy.

The search for innovative anti-cancer drugs remains a challenge. Over the past three decades, antibodies have emerged as an essential asset in successful cancer therapy. The major obstacle in developing anti-cancer antibodies is the need for non-immunogenic antibodies against human antigens. This unique requirement highlights a disadvantage to using traditional hybridoma technology and thus demands alternative approaches, such as humanizing murine monoclonal antibodies. To overcome these hurdles, human monoclonal antibodies can be obtained directly from Phage Display libraries, a groundbreaking tool for antibody selection. These libraries consist of genetically engineered viruses, or phages, which can exhibit antibody fragments, such as scFv or Fab on their capsid. This innovation allows the in vitro selection of novel molecules directed towards cancer antigens. As foreseen when Phage Display was first described, nowadays, several Phage Display-derived antibodies have entered clinical settings or are undergoing clinical evaluation. This comprehensive review unveils the remarkable progress in this field and the possibilities of using clever strategies for phage selection and tailoring the refinement of antibodies aimed at increasingly specific targets. Moreover, the use of selected antibodies in cutting-edge formats is discussed, such as CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) in CAR T-cell therapy or ADC (antibody drug conjugate), amplifying the spectrum of potential therapeutic avenues.

Exposição a agrotóxicos: determinação dos valores de referência para colinesterase plasmática e eritrocitária / Exposure to agrochemicals: determination of reference values for plasma and erythrocyte cholinesterase

Estabelecer um valor de referência de acetilcolinesterase e butirilcolinesterase para os trabalhadores da Saúde Pública no controle de vetores.

To set reference values of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase for public health workers in the vector control area.

Application of Fenton, photo-Fenton, solar photo-Fenton, and UV/H2O2 to degradation of the antineoplastic agent mitoxantrone and toxicological evaluation.

In the present study, selected advanced oxidation processes (AOPs)-namely, photo-Fenton (with Fe(2+), Fe(3+), and potassium ferrioxalate-FeOx-as iron sources), solar photo-Fenton, Fenton, and UV/H2O2-were investigated for degradation of the antineoplastic drug mitoxantrone (MTX), frequently used to treat metastatic breast cancer, skin cancer, and acute leukemia. The results showed that photo-Fenton processes employing Fe(III) and FeOx and the UV/H2O2 process were most efficient for mineralizing MTX, with 77, 82, and 90% of total organic carbon removal, respectively. MTX probably forms a complex with Fe(III), as demonstrated by voltammetric and spectrophotometric measurements. Spectrophotometric titrations suggested that the complex has a 2:1 Fe(3+):MTX stoichiometric ratio and a complexation constant (K) of 1.47 × 10(4) M(-1), indicating high MTX affinity for Fe(3+). Complexation partially inhibits the involvement of iron ions and hence the degradation of MTX during photo-Fenton. The UV/H2O2 process is usually slower than the photo-Fenton process, but, in this study, the UV/H2O2 process proved to be more efficient due to complexing of MTX with Fe(III). The drug exhibited no cytotoxicity against NIH/3T3 mouse embryonic fibroblast cells when oxidized by UV/H2O2 or by UV/H2O2/FeOx at the concentrations tested.

Voltammetric determination of tert-butylhydroquinone in biodiesel using a carbon paste electrode in the presence of surfactant.

This paper reports an electroanalytical method developed for determining the antioxidant tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) in biodiesel, based on the enhancement effect of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). In pH 6.5 Britton-Robinson buffer, a poorly defined oxidation peak was observed for TBHQ at a carbon paste electrode (CPE). In the presence of low concentrations of CTAB, however, the oxidation peak current was markedly increased. Several parameters were studied and optimized for the development of this methodology, and under optimal conditions the oxidation peak current was proportional to TBHQ concentration in the range of (1.05-10.15) x 10(-6) mol L(-1), with limits of detection and quantification of 7.11 x 10(-8) mol L(-1) and 2.37 x 10(-7) mol L(-1), respectively, by linear sweep voltammetry (LSV). The method was applied to TBHQ determination in soybean biodiesel samples. The results were satisfactory in comparison with those obtained using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Voltammetric determination of the phytoestrogen genistein in soy flours and soy based supplements using cationic surfactant cetyltrimetylammonium bromide.

This paper proposes a methodology based on electrochemical reduction for a fast, specific and sensitive determination of genistein by square-wave voltammetry (SWV). The highest peak currents and optimal definition of reduction peak of genistein was obtained by using a supporting electrolyte consisted of 0.04 mol L(-1) phosphate buffer-methanol (8:2, v/v) solution at pH 7.5 and cationic surfactant 2.21 x 10(-4) mol L(-1) cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). The peak current was proportional to the concentration of genistein in the range 1.14 x 10(-7) to 1.09 x 10(-6) mol L(-1), with a detection limit and quantification of 3.43 x 10(-8) mol L(-1) and 1.14 x 10(-7) mol L(-1), respectively. The extraction procedure was evaluated for a better determination of genistein contained in soy flour and soy based supplements. The efficiency of the proposed methodology was demonstrated by comparing the results obtained by SWV with those obtained by the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method.

Fator de risco para bócio: teor de iodo no sal para consumo humano em Mato Grosso do Sul / Risk factor for goiter: iodine in salt for human consumption in Mato Grosso do Sul

Introdução: a carência de iodo no organismo é considerada um problema de saúde pública, pois pode causar bócio no adulto, e nas crianças, levar ao atraso no crescimento e na capacidade de aprendizagem. Objetivos: este estudo teve o objetivo de avaliar o teor de iodo no sal consumido no estado de Mato Grosso do Sul. Métodos: foram coletadas 596 amostras, de 67 marcas, pelas vigilâncias sanitárias, nos estabelecimentos comerciais de 63 municípios, no período de outubro de 2007 a março de 2009. As análises foram realizadas em triplicata, no Laboratório de Físico-química de Alimentos do Laboratório Central de Saúde Pública Estadual, através da metodologia de titulação com tiossulfato de sódio. Resultados: os resultados apresentaram o valor médio do teor de iodo de 31,26mg\Kg, mediana de 30,55mg\Kg, desvio padrão de 9,52mgKg, coeficiente de variação de 30,47%, teve como limite inferior valor abaixo do LD 2.5rmg/Kg) e limite superior de 79,10mgkg de sal. Com 5,4% de amostras insatisfatórias em relação à legislagão vigente, distribuídas em 25,4% dos municípios. Conclusão: a presença de amostras com ausência, deficiência e excesso de iodo aponta para a necessidade de contínuo monitorariento e vigilância para garantir às crianças e à população suprimento adequado de iodo através do sal. Estudos de inquérito nutricional são necessários para avaliar a ingestão da população através da determinação da excreção urinária de iodo.

Introduction: in the last few decades many efforts have been carried through to reduce the tobaccoism. However, still the number of smokers in the country is very great, leading these individuals the cardiovascular risks, compromising the physical and mental health of the individuals and the society. The incidence of tobaccoism in the population of the feminine sex in fertile age comes increasing throughout the years. The women who smoke are 20% part 45% of the population in general, being able to vary for age, etnia, income and educational level. Another situation that worries is the pregnant that makes tobacco use during the pregnancy. This vice in such a way brings risks to the pregnant how much to the embryo, being able to develop congenital problems. Objectives: the execution of this research had for objective to identify the possible alterations of the vital signals in smoking and not smoking pregnant in the childbirth work. Methods: were collected 596 samples of 67 brands, for health surveillance, in commercial establishments from 63 municipalities during the period October 2007 to March 2009. Analyses were performed in triplicate, at the Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Foods Central Laboratory of Public Health State, through the method of titration with sodium thiosulfate. Results: results showed the average iodine content of 31.26 mg kg, median of 30.55 mg kg, standard deviation of t 9.52 mg \kg, coetticient of variation of 30.47% was the lower limit value below the method detection limit (2.5 mg/kg) and upper limit of 79.10 mg kg salt. With 5.4% of unsatisfactory samples in relation to legislation, distributed in 25.4% of the municipalities. Conclusion: the presence of samples with absence, deficiency and iodine excess points to the need for continuous monitoring and surveillance to ensure the children and the population an adequate iodine supply through salt. Nutritional survey studies are needed to assess the intake of the population by determining the urinary iodine excretion.

Influence of the surfactant bromide of cetyltrimetyl ammonium in the determination of chlorogenic acid in instant coffee and mate tea samples.

In this study, two quantitative differential-pulse polarography (DPP) and square-wave voltammetry (SWV) methods were developed to determine total chlorogenic acid (CGA). Studies on this compound involve its reduction at a hanging mercury drop electrode in micellar media-a simple, fast, reliable, and sensitive method. The use of surfactant cationic cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) was pivotal to the development of these methods, allowing for satisfactory changes in CGA reduction. The supporting electrolyte which provided the best-defined CGA determination was 0.04-mol L(-1) phosphate buffer at pH 6.0 in the presence of CTAB. Based on this use and under optimized conditions, the two new DPP and SWV methods for CGA analysis had detection limits of 2.36 x 10(-7) and 1.34 x 10(-9)mol L(-1), respectively, for a pure standard. Analysis of the standard in the presence of treated instant coffee and mate tea samples allowed for good average recovery rates, ranging from 97.06% to 105.90%.