BackgroundThe increasing incidence of cancer and the search for more effective therapies with minimal collateral effects have prompted studies to find alternative new treatments. Among these, photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been proposed as a very promising new modality in cancer treatment with the lowest rates of side effects, revealing itself to be particularly successful when the photosensitizer is associated with nanoscaled carriers. This study aimed to design and develop a new formulation based on albumin nanospheres containing zinc-phthalocyanine tetrasulfonate (ZnPcS4-AN) for use in the PDT protocol and to investigate its antitumor activity in Swiss albino mice using the Ehrlich solid tumor as an experimental model for breast cancer.MethodsEhrlich tumor’s volume, histopathology and morphometry were used to assess the efficacy of intratumoral injection of ZnPcS4-AN in containing tumor aggressiveness and promoting its regression, while the toxicity of possible treatments was assessed by animal weight, morphological analysis of the liver and kidneys, hemogram, and serum levels of total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, indirect bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase, creatinine and urea. In order to evaluate the efficacy of PDT, groups of animals treated with intratumoral injection of doxorubicin (Dox) were also investigated.ResultsIntratumoral injection of ZnPcS4-AN was found to be efficient in mediating PDT to refrain tumor aggressiveness and to induce its regression. Although tumor volume reduction was not significant, PDT induced a remarkable increase in the necrosis area seen in the tumor’s central region, as in other experimental groups, including tumor and Dox treated groups, but also in the tumor’s peripheral region. Further, PDT showed minimal adverse effects. Indeed, the use of ZnPcS4-AN in mediating PDT revealed anti-neoplastic activity similar to that obtained while using intratumoral Dox therapy.ConclusionsPDT mediated by the new formulation ZnPcS4-AN enhanced the inhibition of tumor growth while producing practically no adverse effects and thus emerges as a very promising nanotechnology-based strategy for solid cancer treatment.

Xeroderma pigmentosum is a rare hereditary autosomal recessive genodermatosis. At present, there are many treatment options for xeroderma pigmentosum, covering medical/procedural, surgical and combined modalities. However, the quality of these interventions has not been assessed. Our study aimed to perform a systematic review of the literature regarding the treatment of xeroderma pigmentosum. Multiple medical databases were accessed with the Medical Subject Headings terms; “xeroderma pigmentosum,” “therapeutics” and “surgical procedures, operative” from January 2000 to April 2019, including articles published in Portuguese, Spanish and English (PROSPERO-CRD42018114858). Two hundred and ninety-eight studies were found in the databases researched, of which, after applying the inclusion criteria, only 33 studies remained. The 33 complete articles were read by three of the authors, having been found: 16 reported medical/procedural and 17 reported surgical treatments. Only one clinical study presented a good level of evidence (EL: 2): a randomized clinical trial using a T4 endonuclease V (T4N5) liposome lotion which reduced the development of skin lesions in patients with xeroderma pigmentosum. Amongst surgical modalities, all studies presented low evidence level (EL: 4). Three illustrative cases are also presented, to emphasize the multiple number of times that surgical modalities may be required in these patients. The therapeutic modalities, both clinical and surgical, for xeroderma pigmentosum presented a low level of scientific evidence which did not allow meta-analysis. More therapeutic studies, both clinical and surgical, with better scientific evidence are needed.

Rev. Bras. Cir. Plást. 2011; 26(1): 104-15 104 Andrade FAG et al. Hemicelulose em reconstrução da parede abdominal em ratosReconstruction of the abdominal wall in rats with hemicellulose RESUMO Introdução: As perdas de substância da parede abdominal (PSPA) revestem-se de importância clínica e cirúrgica em função da alta frequência com que ocorrem, do sofrimento que produzem e do alto custo dos tratamentos atualmente ministrados. Nos últimos anos, tem-se observado o desenvolvimento de novas técnicas para a resolução das perdas de substância da PSPA, entre as quais se incluem a realização de retalhos e o uso de materiais biocompatíveis e sintéticos. Método: Esse estudo experimental aleatório e não controlado avaliou o uso da hemicelulose para a reparação das PSPA em 40 ratos Wistar EPM III, femêos. Os animais foram divididos em quatro grupos experimentais de estudo: I (n=10), II (n=10), III = (n=10) e IV (n=10). Todos os animais foram submetidos a anestesia geral utilizando-se o tiopental sódico, via intraperitonial. Foi provocada uma lesão de 2,0 x 3,0cm no tecido músculo-aponeurótico e peritônio da região anterior do abdome. A aposição da película de hemicelulose sobre a lesão foi realizada superpondo-se 15 películas de 2,0 x 3,0cm, umedecidas em soro fisiológico a 0,9%. A película foi fixada à parede muscular adjacente e, em seguida, foi realizada a síntese da pele e panículo carnoso por meio de sutura contínua com fio de náilon de número cinco zeros. A eutanásia dos animais dos grupos I (n=10), II (n=10), III (n=10) e IV (n=10) foi realizada após 3, 28, 35 e 240 dias, respectivamente. Conclusão: Esse estudo concluiu que a hemicelulose foi eficiente em reparar as grandes perdas da parede abdominal em ratos.Descritores: Parede abdominal/cirurgia. Implantes experimentais. Ratos. Histologia. ABSTRACTIntroduction: Substance losses of abdominal wall (SLAW) has a vital clinical and surgical importance due to the high frequency which they occur, the suffering they cause, the challenge of treatment and the high cost of treatment administered today. In the last years, has been observed the development of new techniques to resolve SLAW, some which include the making of flaps and the use of biocompatible and synthetic materials. Methods: This random experimental and uncontrolled study evaluated the use of hemicellulose as a repair of SLAW in 40 EPM III Wistar female rats. The animals were divided in four experimental study groups: I (n=10), II (n=10), III (n=10), IV (n=10). All the animals were submitted to general anesthesia using sodium thiopental, via intraperitoneal. A lesion of aponeurotic muscle tissue and peritoneal from the region anterior abdominal was made. The placing of hemicellulose pellicle over the lesion was performed overlapping fifteen pellicles (2.0 x 3.0 cm each), bathed in 0.9% saline solution. The pellicle was fixed to adjacent muscle wall, the subcutaneous and skin was sutured by continuous suturing with 5-0 nylon suture. The provoked death (euthanasia) of the animals in each group -I (n=10), II (n=1...