Highly effective decontamination in a hospital environment: An easy-to-operate, low-cost prototype.

Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) are illnesses acquired during healthcare and are often the most important adverse event during healthcare. With the aim of increasing the effectiveness of disinfection/decontamination processes in the health service with safe and not promote microbial resistance, we propose the development of portable equipment associated with type C ultraviolet light (UVC). The efficiency of the irradiance emitted by the equipment (at dosages 3.

Anti-MDR Effects of Quercetin and its Nanoemulsion in Multidrug-Resistant Human Leukemia Cells.

Background: Quercetin has potential against the Multidrug Resistance (MDR) phenotype, but with low bioavailability. The increase in the bioavailability can be obtained with nanostructures.

Objective: To analyze the effects of quercetin and its nanoemulsion on MDR and non-MDR cells.

Multidrug resistance phenotype: Relation between phenotype induction and its characteristics in erythroleukemia cells.

Chemotherapy may be followed by multiple drug resistance (MDR). This is an obstacle in the treatment of cancer. It is therefore essential to understand the mechanisms underlying tumor resistance, especially those involved in the cell target/MDR relationship.

C-Phycocyanin: Cellular targets, mechanisms of action and multi drug resistance in cancer.

C-Phycocyanin (C-PC) has been shown to be promising in cancer treatment; however, although several articles detailing this have been published, its main mechanisms of action and its cellular targets have not yet been defined, nor has a detailed exploration been conducted of its role in the resistance of cancer cells to chemotherapy, rendering clinical use impossible. From our extensive examination of the literature, we have determined as our main hypothesis that C-PC has no one specific target, but rather acts on the membrane, cytoplasm, and nucleus with diverse mechanisms of action. We highlight the cell targets with which C-PC interacts (the MDR1 gene, cytoskeleton proteins, and COX-2 enzyme) that make it capable of killing cells resistant to chemotherapy.

Interaction of single-walled carbon nanotubes and saxitoxin: Ab initio simulations and biological responses in hippocampal cell line HT-22.

Saxitoxins (STXs) are potent neurotoxins that also induce cytotoxicity through the generation of reactive oxygen species. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are nanomaterials that can promote a Trojan horse effect, facilitating the entry of toxic molecules to cells when adsorbed to nanomaterials. The interaction of pristine single-walled (SW)CNTs and carboxylated (SWCNT-COOH) nanotubes with STX was evaluated by ab initio simulation and bioassays using the cell line HT-22.

Cell differentiation and the multiple drug resistance phenotype in human erythroleukemic cells.

The gene expression of Oct-4, a transcription factor and hematopoietic stem cell marker, is higher in Lucena lines, which is MDR, and the gene Alox-5 has also been implicated in the differentiation of some cell lines. The aim of this study was to compare the response to PMA-induced differentiation in MDR and non-MDR cells. We observed the differentiation to megakaryocytes in the K562 cell line, which is non-MDR.

Anti-MDR and antitumoral action of acetylsalicylic acid on leukaemic cells.

ASA (acetylsalicylic acid) is an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug). ASA has gained attention as a potential chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agent for several neoplasms. The aim of this study was to analyse the possible antitumoural effects of ASA in two erythroleukaemic cell lines, with or without the MDR (multidrug resistance) phenotype.

Nitric oxide-dependent pigment migration induced by ultraviolet radiation in retinal pigment cells of the crab Neohelice granulata.

The purpose of this study was to verify the occurrence of pigment dispersion in retinal pigment cells exposed to UVA and UVB radiation, and to investigate the possible participation of a nitric oxide (NO) pathway. Retinal pigment cells from Neohelice granulata were obtained by cellular dissociation. Cells were analyzed for 30 min in the dark (control) and then exposed to 1.

Influence of the dark/light rhythm on the effects of UV radiation in the eyestalk of the crab Neohelice granulata.

Crustaceans are interesting models to study the effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and many species may be used as biomarkers for aquatic contamination of UV radiation reaching the surface of the Earth. Here, we investigated cell damage in the visual system of crabs Neohelice granulata that were acclimated to either 12L:12D, constant light, or constant dark, and were exposed to UVA or UVB at 12:00h (noon). The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), antioxidant capacity against peroxyl radicals (ACAP), lipid peroxidation (LPO) damage, catalase activity, and pigment dispersion in the eye were evaluated.

Toxicity mechanisms of onion (Allium cepa) extracts and compounds in multidrug resistant erythroleukemic cell line.

Onion (Allium cepa) is being studied as a potential anticancer agent, but little is known regarding its effect in multidrug resistance (MDR) cells. In this work, the cytotoxicity of crude onion extract (OE) and fractioned extract (aqueous, methanolic and ethyl acetate), as well as some onion compounds (quercetin and propyl disulfide) were evaluated in Lucena MDR human erythroleukemic and its K562 parental cell line. The capacity of OE to induce apoptosis and/or necrosis in these cells, the possible participation of oxidative stress and DNA damage were also assessed.

Photodynamic action of benzo[a]pyrene in K562 cells.

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is ubiquitously distributed in the environment, being considered the most phototoxic element among polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs). In presence of oxygen, PAHs can act as a photosensitizer by means of promoting photo-oxidation of biological molecules (photodynamic action, PDA). Thus, the present study analyzed the photodynamic action of BaP under UVA irradiation (BaP + UVA) and its oxidative effects on K562 cells.

Comparative cytotoxic and anti-tuberculosis activity of Aplysina caissara marine sponge crude extracts.

Three crude extracts of Aplysina caissara, a marine sponge endemic to Brazil, were tested against a hepatoma cell line and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The results demonstrate that all extracts are toxic and capable of inhibiting cellular growth. Additionally, the extracts produced morphological aberrations and inhibited cell attachment to culture substrates.