In vitro assessment of the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of clarified açai (Euterpe oleracea MART) extract in a gastric cancer cell line (AGP01 cells).

Açaí (Euterpe oleracea MART) is a fruit of great importance for the Amazon region in nutritional, cultural and socioeconomic terms. In recent years, açaí has been the subject of several studies due to its beneficial properties for health, including effects against tumor cells. Therefore, the present work aimed to evaluate in vitro the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of the clarified extract of açaí juice in a human metastatic gastric cancer cell line (AGP01 cells). For comparison purposes, a non-transformed cell line of African green monkey renal epithelial cells (VERO cells) was used. The viability assay by resazurin reduction, the comet assay, the determination of cell death by differential fluorescent dyes and the wound healing migration assay were performed. A reduction in viability was observed only in the AGP01 line within 72 h. There was no genotoxic damage or cell death (through apoptosis or necrosis) in any of the cell lines. However, açaí extract induced motility reduction in both cell lines. The reduction in cell viability and the induction of the anti-migratory effect in the AGP01 cell line opens perspectives for exploring the potential of açaí as an adjuvant in the treatment of gastric cancer.

Effects of alkaline water intake on gastritis and miRNA expression (miR-7, miR-155, miR-135b and miR-29c).

It is known that abnormal expression of miRNAs in the gastric cancer (GC) contributes to its carcinogenesis. Therefore, ingestion of commercial (usual) water on a daily basis may be a contributing factor for the occurrence of alterations in the gastric mucosal. In this study, it was evaluated the expression of the miRNAs miR-29c, miR-7, miR-155, and miR-135b in the gastric tissue of patients with gastritis before and after the consumption of alkaline water (pH range from 8.0 to 10.0), as well as the clinic pathological characteristics. METHODS: 50 subjects from the Amazon region, diagnosed with gastritis that routinely used commercial (usual) water with a pH lower than 5.0, were enrolled to change the consume water to a pH of 8.5 to 10.0 for 5 months. RESULTS: Endoscopic findings of gastritis were such different (less severe disease), P = 0.024; in 43% diagnosed with moderate gastritis upfront esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) presented mild gastritis after the consumption of alkaline water, according to study methods; there were no worsening gastritis and there were a significant increase in the expression of miR-135b (P = 0.039) and miR-29c (P = 0.039). CONCLUSION: Modified pH range water (from 8.0 to 10.0) ingested for 5 months was able lead to a less severe gastritis according to the Sidney classification system, suggesting that this lifestyle change represented a clinical benefit in patients with gastritis on the Amazon region. In addition, higher expression of miR-135b and miR-29c was observed after the consumption of alkaline water for 5 months.

Prognostic value of the TP53 Arg72Pro single-nucleotide polymorphism and susceptibility to medulloblastoma in a cohort of Brazilian patients.

Medulloblastoma is a highly cellular malignant embryonal neoplasm, being the most common malignant pediatric brain tumor, accounting for 20-25 % of pediatric central nervous system tumors. To investigate the effect of the TP53 Arg72Pro single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) on clinicopathological and phenotypic parameters, we performed a case-controlled study of 122 patients and 122 healthy controls from Brazil. No significant associations were found between the TP53 Arg72Pro genotypes and the clinicopathological parameters studied. Compared with Arg/Arg, which is the most common genotype in the study population, both the Arg/Pro and Pro/Pro genotypes did not influence the medulloblastoma development risk [odds ratio (OR) = 1.36 and P = 0.339 for the Arg/Pro genotype; OR = 1.50 and P = 0.389 for the Pro/Pro genotype]. With regard to prognosis, disease-free survival was not significantly different among the TP53 Arg72Pro SNP genotypes (P > 0.05), but the less frequent genotype (Pro/Pro) was associated with shorter overall survival of medulloblastoma patients (P = 0.021). These data suggest that, although there is no association between the TP53 Arg72Pro SNP and medulloblastoma risk, the Pro/Pro genotype is associated with shorter overall survival of patients submitted to adjuvant therapy. Nevertheless, due to the interethnic composition of the Brazilian population, future studies on larger populations from other parts of the world are essential for a definitive conclusion on the function of the TP53 Arg72Pro SNP.