Experts have called attention to the possible negative impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related cytokine storm syndrome on the progression of leprosy-related disabilities. We ...assessed the frequency of reactional states in patients co-infected with Mycobacterium leprae and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus (CoV) 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We consecutively included patients during the first peak of the COVID-19 epidemic in Brazil and analyzed the expressions of genes encoding interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12A, IL-12B, and tumor necrosis factor-α in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. We included 64 leprosy patients and 50 controls. Twelve of the leprosy patients and 14 of the controls had been diagnosed with COVID-19. Co-infection was associated with increased IL-6 (P = 0.043) and IL-12B (P = 0.017) expression. The median disability grades were higher for leprosy/COVID-19 patients; however, the difference was not significant (P = 0.194). Patients co-infected with M. leprae and SARS-CoV-2 may experience a higher-grade proinflammatory state.
DSP2 for sex determination of miscegenated contemporary hip bones Lopes, Allyson Rodrigo de Oliveira; Silva, Ellen Mayara Lima; Nascimento, Marcela Martins da Silva ...
Anatomia, histologia, embryologia,
January 2024, 2024-Jan, 2024-01-00, 20240101, Letnik:
53, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
The bones of the human pelvis are used in sexual diagnosis generating a high level of accuracy for this type of identification. Morphological and/or morphometric methods are used in the ...identification of sex. Sexual dimorphism may be affected by ethnic differences in the population. One of the methods for determining sex using hip bone is the ‘Diagnose Sexuelle Probabiliste (DSP)’ or Probabilistic Sexual Diagnosis (DSP) method. The method presents a new version (Probabilistic Sexual Diagnosis v.2—DSP2) more advisable to be used because it has a more up‐to‐date database. The objective of this study is to investigate the applicability of the DSP2 method in a population in the Northeast region of Brazil. We used 128 hip bones, 50 female and 78 males, aged between 17 and 101 years, belonging to the Laboratory of Human Identification and Forensic Osteology of the University Federal Government of Pernambuco. The research was conducted between 2019 and 2020 and approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Pernambuco no. 43228015.0.0000.5208. The probability equal to or greater than 0.95 was used as the limit for the determination of sex, and the results were compared with the actual sex of each bone. In the Brazilian collection study, it was observed that the percentage of sex estimation provided by the DSP2 tool using all reference samples was 71.09%, and accuracy was 64.06%. In the analysis of the gender estimate, 82.0% and 78% were obtained for females and males, respectively. Regarding accuracy, it was 64.10% and 55.13% for females and males, respectively. In the contemporary osteological collection of the Northeast region of Brazil, which presents immigrant peoples, we obtained a high index of assertiveness in the DSP2 method. The study concluded that the DSP2 method is important for determining the sex of human skeletons in a miscegenated population.
to describe the epidemiological profile of farmworkers exposed to pesticides in the city of Casimiro de Abreu, Rio de Janeiro State.
cross-sectional study, conducted through a questionnaire. The ...collected data were typed in spreadsheet and processed in the R software.
the predominance of female participants, between 40 and 60 years old, married, with some elementary education was observed. Furthermore, the family labor and the production for their own consumption and trade prevail. Herbicide is the most widely used pesticide. Most informants present poisoning symptoms, as they do not use Personal Protective Equipment nor sunscreen. Breast cancer is the most frequent in families; among the participants, 31% had hypertension and 6.4% diabetes.
a population vulnerable to environmental and occupational risks, specially the middle-aged group and women, sets up a profile marked by regional differences.
Intestinal mucositis is a common complication associated with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), a chemotherapeutic agent used for cancer treatment. Troxerutin (TRX), a semi-synthetic flavonoid extracted from
, ...has been reported as a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of TRX on 5-FU-induced intestinal mucositis. Swiss mice were randomly divided into seven groups: Saline, 5-FU, TRX-50, TRX-100, TRX-150, Celecoxib (CLX), and CLX + TRX-100. The weight of mice was measured daily. After treatment, the animals were euthanized and segments of the small intestine were collected to evaluate histopathological alterations (morphometric analysis), levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), glutathione (GSH), mast and goblet cell counts, immunohistochemical analysis, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activity. Compared to the saline treatment, the 5-FU treatment induced intense weight loss and reduction in villus height. TRX treatment (100 mg/kg) prevented the 5-FU-induced histopathological changes and decreased oxidative stress by decreasing the MDA levels and increasing GSH concentration. TRX attenuated inflammatory process by decreasing MPO activity, intestinal mastocytosis, and COX-2 expression. TRX also reversed the depletion of goblet cells. Our findings suggest that TRX at a concentration of 100 mg/kg had chemopreventive effects on 5-FU-induced intestinal mucositis via COX-2 pathway.
•The striatal DA depletion observed in the untreated 6-OHDA group.•The decreased locomotor activity and increased apomorphine-induced behavior.•The decreased immunoreactivity for TH in the striatum ...of 6-OHDA-lesioned rats.•The increased IL-1beta and TNF-alpha immunoreactivity in the substantia nigra and striatum of 6-OHDA-lesioned rats.•The increased HDAC immunoreactivity in the striatum and CA1 and CA3 areas of the hippocampus of 6-OHDA-lesioned groups.
Several lines of evidences have shown the inversion association between coffee consumption and Parkinson's disease (PD) development. Caffeine is a methylxanthine known as a non-selective inhibitor of A2A and A1 adenosine receptors in the brain and shown to be a neuroprotective drug. The objectives were to study caffeine effects in a unilateral 6-OHDA model of PD in rats. Male rats were divided into the following groups: sham-operated (SO), striatal 6-OHDA-lesioned and 6-OHDA-lesioned and treated for 2 weeks with caffeine (10 and 20mg/kg, p.o.). Then, animals were subjected to behavioral (open field and apomorphine-induced rotations), neurochemical (striatal determinations of DA and DOPAC), histological (cresyl violet staining) and immunohistochemical (TH, TNF-α, IL-1β and HDAC) evaluations. The results showed that while the 6-OHDA group presented a decreased locomotor activity and a high number of apomorphine-induced rotations, these behaviors were partially blocked by caffeine. Caffeine itself increased DA contents and reversed the decrease in striatal DA observed in the 6-OHDA-lesioned group. Furthermore, it improved the hippocampal neuronal viability and significantly increased TH immunoreactivity in the striatum of the 6-OHDA-lesioned group. In addition, caffeine treatment also decreased the number of immunopositive cells for HDAC and pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β. All these effects points out to a neuroprotective effect of caffeine and its potential benefit in the prevention and treatment of PD.
This study investigates the gastroprotective effects of hecogenin, a steroid saponin isolated from Agave sisalana, on experimental models of gastric ulcer. Male Swiss mice were used in the models of ...ethanol- and indometacin-induced gastric ulcer. To clarify the hecogenin mechanism of action, the roles of nitric oxide (NO), sulfhydryls (GSH), K+ATP channels and prostaglandins were also investigated, and measurements of lipid peroxidation (TBARS assay) and nitrite levels in the stomach of hecogenin-treated and untreated animals were performed. Furthermore, the effects of hecogenin on myeloperoxidase (MPO) release from human neutrophils were assessed in vitro. Our results showed that hecogenin (3.1, 7.5, 15, 30, 60 and 90mg/kg, p.o.) acutely administered, before ethanol or indomethacin, exhibited a potent gastroprotective effect. Although the pretreatments with L-NAME, an iNOS inhibitor, and capsazepine, a TRPV1 receptor agonist, were not able to reverse the hecogenin effect, this was reversed by glibenclamide, a K+ATP blocker, and indomethacin in the model of ethanol-induced gastric lesions. The hecogenin pretreatment normalized GSH levels and significantly reduced lipid peroxidation and nitrite levels in the stomach, as evaluated by the ethanol-induced gastric lesion model. The drug alone increased COX-2 expression and this effect was further enhanced in the presence of ethanol. It also decreased MPO release and significantly protected the gastric mucosa. In conclusion, we showed that hecogenin presents a significant gastroprotective effect that seems to be mediated by K+ATP channels opening and the COX-2/PG pathway. In addition, its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties may play a role in the gastroprotective drug effect.
The aim of study was to analyze the students' perception of Physiotherapy course, based on the use of didactic scripts in practical classes of Neuroanatomy discipline. It was of qualitative type, ...through an experience report, in which the content analysis of discourses of participants was carried out. It was possible to observe that scripts facilitated their comprehension of concept of curricular component worked here, as well as presented like guiding method in learning process and were dynamic and facilitators in the apprehension of contents studied. Thus, we infer that use of didactic scripts, in practical classes of Neuroanatomy discipline, contribute in teaching-learning process, making student active in construction of his knowledge.
O objetivo do estudo foi analisar a percepção de discentes do curso de fisioterapia, a partir do uso de roteiros didáticos em aulas práticas da disciplina de Neuroanatomia. Este foi do tipo qualitativo, através de relato de experiência, no qual realizou-se a análise de conteúdo dos discursos dos partícipes. Foi possível observar que os roteiros lhes facilitaram a compreensão do conceito do componente curricular aqui trabalhado, bem como se apresentou como um método norteador no processo de aprendizagem e foram dinâmicos e facilitadores na apreensão dos conteúdos estudados. Assim, inferimos que o uso de roteiros didáticos em aulas práticas da disciplina de neuroanatomia contribui no processo de ensino-aprendizagem, tornando o discente ativo na construção de seu conhecimento.
El objetivo del estudio fue analizar la percepción de discentes, del curso de Fisioterapia, frente al uso de manuales didácticos en clases prácticas de la disciplina de Neuroanatomía. Este fue del tipo cualitativo, a través de relato de experiencia, en el cual se realizó el análisis de contenido de los discursos de los partícipes. Se pudo observar que los manuales les facilitaron la comprensión del concepto del componente curricular aquí trabajado, así como se presentó como un método orientador en el proceso de aprendizaje y fueron dinámicos y facilitadores en la aprehensión de los contenidos estudiados. Así, inferimos que el uso de manuales didácticos, en clases prácticas de la disciplina de neuroanatomía, contribuyen en el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje, haciendo el discente activo en la construcción de su conocimiento.
The antioxidant and antinociceptive activities of Citrus limon essential oil (EO) were assessed in mice or in vitro tests. EO possesses a strong antioxidant potential according to the scavenging ...assays. Moreover, it presented scavenger activity against all in vitro tests. Orally, EO (50, 100, and 150 mg/kg) significantly reduced the number of writhes, and, at highest doses, it reduced the number of paw licks. Whereas naloxone antagonized the antinociceptive action of EO (highest doses), this suggested, at least, the participation of the opioid system. Further studies currently in progress will enable us to understand the action mechanisms of EO.
Valproic acid (VA) is a major antiepileptic drug, used for several therapeutic indications. It has a wide activity spectrum, reflecting on mechanisms of action that are not fully understood. The ...objectives of this work were to study the effects of VA on acute models of nociception and inflammation in rodents. VA (0.5, 1, 10, 25, and 50 mg/kg, p.o.) effects were evaluated on the carrageenan-induced paw edema, carrageenan-induced peritonitis, and plantar tests in rats, as well as by the formalin test in mice. The HE staining and immunohistochemistry assay for TNF-α in carrageenan-induced edema, from paws of untreated and VA-treated rats, were also carried out. VA decreased paw edema after carrageenan, and maximum effects were seen with doses equal to or higher than 10 mg/kg. VA also preserved the tissue architecture as assessed by the HE staining. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that VA significantly reduced TNF-α immunostaining in carrageenan-inflamed rat paws. In addition, the anti-inflammatory action of VA was potentiated by pentoxifylline (a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, known to inhibit TNF-α production), but not by sodium butyrate or by suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), nonspecific and specific inhibitors, respectively, of histone deacetylase. However, the decrease in the number of positive TNF-α cells in the rat paw was drastically potentiated in the VA + SAHA associated group. VA also reduced leukocytes and myeloperoxidase (MPO) releases to the peritoneal exudate, in the carrageenan-induced peritonitis. Although in the formalin test, VA inhibited both phases, the inhibition was mainly on the second phase. Furthermore, VA significantly increased the reaction time to thermal stimuli, as assessed by the plantar test. VA is a multi-target drug, presenting potent antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties at a lower dose range. These effects are partly dependent upon its inhibitory action on TNF-α-related pathways. However, the participation of the HDAC inhibition with the VA anti-inflammatory action cannot be ruled out. Inflammatory processes are associated with free radical damage and oxidative stress, and their blockade by VA could also explain the present results.
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