Molecular Aspects of Piperine in Signaling Pathways Associated with Inflammation in Head and Neck Cancer.

Piperine, an active plant alkaloid from black pepper (Piper nigrum), has several pharmacological effects, namely antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects, which involve inhibiting molecular events associated with various stages of cancer development. The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms of action of piperine in relation to its potential anticancer effect on head and neck cancer cells. Parameters related to neoplastic potential and cytokine, protein and gene expression were investigated in head and neck cancer cell lines (HEp-2 and SCC-25) treated with piperine. The results of the tests indicated that piperine modified morphology and inhibited viability and the formation of cell colonies. Piperine promoted genotoxicity by triggering apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in the G2/M and S phases. A decrease in cell migration was also observed, and there was decreased expression of MMP2/9 genes. Piperine also reduced the expression of inflammatory molecules (PTGS2 and PTGER4), regulated the secretion of cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-8) and modulated the expression of ERK and p38. These results suggest that piperine exerts anticancer effects on tumor cells by regulating signaling pathways associated with head and neck cancer.

Hydrogel Bioinks of Alginate and Curcumin-Loaded Cellulose Ester-Based Particles for the Biofabrication of Drug-Releasing Living Tissue Analogs.

3D bioprinting is a versatile technique that allows the fabrication of living tissue analogs through the layer-by-layer deposition of cell-laden biomaterials, viz. bioinks. In this work, composite alginate hydrogel-based bioinks reinforced with curcumin-loaded particles of cellulose esters (CEpCUR) and laden with human keratinocytes (HaCaT) are developed. The addition of the CEpCUR particles, with sizes of 740 ± 147 nm, improves the rheological properties of the inks, increasing their shear stress and viscosity, while preserving the recovery rate and the mechanical and viscoelastic properties of the resulting fully cross-linked hydrogels. Moreover, the presence of these particles reduces the degradation rate of the hydrogels from 26.3 ± 0.8% (ALG) to 18.7 ± 1.3% (ALG:CEpCUR_10%) after 3 days in the culture medium. The 3D structures printed with the ALG:CEpCUR inks reveal increased printing definition and the ability to release curcumin (with nearly 70% of cumulative release after 24 h in PBS). After being laden with HaCaT cells (1.2 × 106 cells mL-1), the ALG:CEpCUR bioinks can be successfully 3D bioprinted, and the obtained living constructs show good dimensional stability and high cell viabilities at 7 days post-bioprinting (nearly 90%), confirming their great potential for application in fields like wound healing.

Alginate-Lysozyme Nanofibers Hydrogels with Improved Rheological Behavior, Printability and Biological Properties for 3D Bioprinting Applications.

In this study, alginate nanocomposite hydrogel bioinks reinforced with lysozyme nanofibers (LNFs) were developed. Alginate-LNF (A-LNF) suspensions with different LNF contents (1, 5 and 10 wt.%) were prepared and pre-crosslinked with 0.5% (w/v) CaCl2 to formulate A-LNF inks. These inks exhibit proper shear-thinning behavior and good recovery properties (~90%), with the pre-crosslinking step playing a crucial role. A-LNF fully crosslinked hydrogels (with 2% (w/v) CaCl2) that mimic 3D printing scaffolds were prepared, and it was observed that the addition of LNFs improved several properties of the hydrogels, such as the morphology, swelling and degradation profiles, and mechanical properties. All formulations are also noncytotoxic towards HaCaT cells. The printing parameters and 3D scaffold model were then optimized, with A-LNF inks showing improved printability. Selected A-LNF inks (A-LNF0 and A-LNF5) were loaded with HaCaT cells (cell density 2 × 106 cells mL-1), and the cell viability within the bioprinted scaffolds was evaluated for 1, 3 and 7 days, with scaffolds printed with the A-LNF5 bioink showing the highest values for 7 days (87.99 ± 1.28%). Hence, A-LNF bioinks exhibited improved rheological performance, printability and biological properties representing a good strategy to overcome the main limitations of alginate-based bioinks.

PREVALENCE AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH VITAMIN B12 DEFICIENCY IN ELDERLY FROM VIÇOSA/MG, BRASIL.

UNLABELLED: The prevalence of vitamin B12 nutritional deficiency increases with age and it is particularly common in elderly people. The objective this study was determining its prevalence and the factors associated with this condition in non-institutionalized elderly from Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. METHODS: a cross-sectional, population-based study was conducted in order to identify the prevalence and the factors associated with vitamin B12 deficiency among the elderly population in Viçosa (MG). Data were collected from August 2011 to June 2012, by means of a household survey and hematological and biochemical tests performed in 340 elderly. RESULTS: the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency in this group was 17.4% (95% CI, 13.4% - 21.4%). Cognitive impairment appears to be an important factor related to vitamin B12 deficiency. CONCLUSIONS: the current paper contributes to studies that emphasize some factors that may affect elderly performance in their natural aging process, especially when these factors are associated with cognitive impairment and lead to significant disability and loss of quality of life. Thus, the herein presented results were able to provide more comprehensive knowledge on the relation between B12 deficiency and its impact on this population. They also proved to be relevant for planning public health programs and initiatives that target on this age group.

La prevalencia de deficiencia nutricional de vitamina B12 aumenta con la edad y es especialmente común en la población mayor. El objetivo de este estudio consistió en determinar su prevalencia y los factores asociados a esta carencia en mayores no institucionalizados de Viçosa, Estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Métodos: estudio poblacional interseccional, realizado para identificar la prevalencia y los factores asociados a deficiencia de vitamina B12 entre la población de mayores en Viçosa (MG). Los datos fueron recopilados desde agosto de 2011 hasta junio de 2012 mediante una encuesta en los hogares y pruebas hematológicas y bioquímicas realizadas en 340 mayores. Resultados: la prevalencia de deficiencia de vitamina B12 en este grupo fue del 17,4% (95% CI, 13,4% - 21,4%). La deficiencia cognitiva se presenta como un factor importante relacionado con la deficiencia de vitamina B12. Conclusiones: el informe actual contribuye a los estudios que destacan ciertos factores que podrían afectar al rendimiento de las personas mayores en su proceso de envejecimiento natural, especialmente cuando estos factores están asociados con deficiencia cognitiva y dan lugar a una discapacidad significativa así como pérdida de calidad de vida. Así, los resultados aquí presentados han servido para aportar un conocimiento más comprensivo sobre la relación entre deficiencia de B12 y su impacto sobre este grupo de población. También han demostrado su relevancia de cara a la planificación de programas e iniciativas de salud pública centrados en este grupo de población.

LIPID PROFILE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG ELDERLY PEOPLE, ATTENDED AT THE FAMILY HEALTH STRATEGY, VIÇOSA/MG.

BACKGROUND: the aging population has been accompanied by epidemiological changes of the Brazilian population, with the highlight being the continued growth of the prevalence of non-communicable chronic diseases especially cardiovascular or artery-coronary, resulting from changes in the lipid profile of the elderly. OBJECTIVE: this study had the aim to describe the behavioral, anthropometric, lifestyle and body composition factors and their association with changes in the lipid profile of elderly people. METHODOLOGY: the sample included 402 participants attended at the Family Health Strategy, Viçosa (MG), to which a questionnaire with socio-demographic, behavioral and lifestyle information was applied. Blood sample was collected to obtain the lipid fractions, and the weight, height, waist circumference and body fat percentage were measured. Multiple linear regression was performed to identify independently associated factors with changes in each of the selected lipid fractions. RESULTS: the factors independently associated with increased levels of total cholesterol were the presence of sedentary behavior, high body fat percentage, greater waist height and greater waist circumference. The consumption of alcoholic beverages and a higher waist-hip ratio remained independently associated with decreased high-density lipoprotein levels. The increased waist circumference was independently associated with low values of the low-density lipoprotein levels. The value of increased triglyceride was independently associated with higher waist-hip ratio, higher body mass index and smoking. CONCLUSIONS: modifiable risk factors associated with a changed lipid profile should be prioritized among the actions to be considered in structuring health programs for the elderly.

Introducción: el envejecimiento de la población ha ido acompañado de cambios epidemiológicos de la población brasileña, destacando el crecimiento continuo de la prevalencia de enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles, especialmente cardiovasculares o de la arteria coronaria, como resultado de los cambios en el perfil lipídico de las personas mayores. Objetivo: describir las variables antropométricas, estilo de vida y composición corporal como factores de comportamiento y su asociación con los cambios en el perfil lipídico de las personas de edad avanzada. Metodología: la muestra incluyó a 402 participantes que asistieron a la Estrategia Salud de la Familia, Viçosa (MG), a los que se aplicó un cuestionario con información socio-demográfica, de comportamiento y de estilo de vida. Se recogió una muestra de sangre para obtener las fracciones de lípidos, y se midió el porcentaje de peso, talla, circunferencia de la cintura y grasa corporal. La regresión lineal múltiple se realizó para identificar factores independientemente asociados con los cambios en cada una de las fracciones de lípidos seleccionados. Resultado: los factores asociados de forma independiente con un aumento de los niveles de colesterol total fueron la presencia de conducta sedentaria, un porcentaje de grasa corporal alto, mayor altura de la cintura y una mayor circunferencia de la cintura. El consumo de bebidas alcohólicas y una proporción cintura-cadera más alta se mantuvo asociado de forma independiente con la disminución de los niveles de lipoproteínas de alta densidad. El aumento de la circunferencia de la cintura se asoció de forma independiente con valores bajos de los niveles de lipoproteínas de baja densidad. El valor del aumento de triglicéridos se asocia de forma independiente con una mayor relación cintura-cadera, un mayor índice de masa corporal y tabaquismo. Conclusión: los factores de riesgo modificables asociados con un perfil lipídico cambiado deben priorizarse entre las acciones a considerar en la estructuración de los programas de salud para los ancianos.