Studies reveal that oxidative stress is associated with adverse effects of long-term morphine treatment. The m-trifluoromethyl-diphenyl diselenide (CF3) is a multi-target organoselenium compound that ...has antioxidant properties in different experimental models. This study aimed to investigate the CF3 effects against redox imbalance in peripheral and central tissues of mice, after single or multiple morphine doses. Swiss male mice received a single dose of morphine (5 mg/kg, s.c.) and CF3 (10 mg/kg, i.g.), or morphine was repeatedly injected (5 mg/kg, s.c.) and CF3 (10 mg/kg, i.g.) administered twice daily for 7 days. Oxidative stress was determined in the hippocampus, liver, and kidney. CF3 reversed the increase in reactive species caused by single and multiple morphine doses in the peripheral tissues. CF3 increased hepatic non-protein thiol levels and the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity decreased by a single morphine dose. CF3 reversed the reduction in SOD activity in the kidney of mice repeatedly exposed to morphine. The study demonstrates that peripheral tissues were more susceptible than the hippocampus to oxidative stress induced by morphine in mice. The results show that CF3 modulated parameters of oxidative stress modified by single and multiple morphine administrations in peripheral and central tissues of mice.
This article aims to describe the presentation of Plummer disease and its evolution after radioiodine treatment and determine factors that may influence treatment efficacy.
The sample included ...retrospective medical records of 165 adult patients with toxic nodular goiter treated with radioiodine between 1997 and 2017, followed up at a single thyroid center.
The efficacy of treatment with a single dose of radioiodine was higher than 90%. The mean radioiodine activity was 28.9 ± 3.4 mCi. The mean time between radioiodine performance and hyperthyroidism resolution was 3.6 ± 3.0 months, ranging from 1-12 months. After the first year, 33.9% of the patients were under hypothyroidism, 59.4% under euthyroidism, and 6.7% under hyperthyroidism. Among the nonresponders, the variables that showed statistical difference were the presence of multinodular goiter and the radioiodine activity (mean, 25.5 ± 6.5 mCi; median, 30 15-30 mCi). The cumulative rate of hypothyroidism was 48.9% over 20 years of follow-up.
Radioiodine therapy is an effective and safe treatment. In Plummer disease, high rates of euthyroidism are expected after the radioiodine treatment. Therapeutic failure was observed mainly in patients with larger multinodular goiters treated with lower doses of radioiodine. The evolution to hypothyroidism was mostly observed in younger patients with larger and uninodular goiters.
The derivatization of chitosan (CS) is widely exploited to endow this polysaccharide with enhanced physicochemical and biological properties. Beyond the synthetic route, the nature of the compounds ...used to functionalize the CS-derivatives exerts a pivotal role in their final properties. Making use of a simple “click” reaction, we synthesized for the first time an organoselenium-CS derivative through a 1,2,3-triazole formation. The product (CS-TSe) was characterized in detail by FTIR, NMR (1H, 13C, and 77Se) and UV–Vis techniques, and SEM microscopy. The antioxidant activity of CS-TSe was examined by ABTS+ and DPPH (free radical-scavenging) assays. Experimentally, it was demonstrated that CS-TSe has superior antioxidant activity compared with raw CS and “free” organoselenium compound, suggesting a benign and synergistic effect due to the derivatization. In short, the antioxidant property of CS-TSe combined with the other attractive properties of CS and selenium could be useful in the formulation of advanced materials for biomedical and packaging applications.
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•A simple “click” reaction was used to synthesize an organoselenium-chitosan derivative.•The organoselenium compound was grafted to chitosan through a 1,2,3-triazole formation.•The derivative showed superior antioxidant activity compared to the precursor compounds.•The association of chitosan and Se benefits the radical scavenging ability of the derivative.•The chitosan derivative has a great prospect in the formulation of advanced materials.
Introduction COVID-19 pandemic posed major challenges in obstetric health care services. Preparedness, development, and implementation of new protocols were part of the needed response. This study ...aims to describe the strategies implemented and the perspectives of health managers on the challenges to face the pandemic in 16 different maternity hospitals that comprise a multicenter study in Brazil, called REBRACO (Brazilian network of COVID-19 during pregnancy). Methods Mixed-method study, with quantitative and qualitative approaches. Quantitative data on the infrastructure of the units, maternal and perinatal health indicators, modifications on staff and human resources, from January to July/2020. Also, information on total number of cases, and availability for COVID-19 testing. A qualitative study by purposeful and saturation sampling was undertaken with healthcare managers, to understand perspectives on local challenges in facing the pandemic. Results Most maternities early implemented their contingency plan. REBRACO centers reported 338 confirmed COVID-19 cases among pregnant and post-partum women up to July 2020. There were 29 maternal deaths and 15 (51.8%) attributed to COVID-19. All maternities performed relocation of beds designated to labor ward, most (75%) acquired mechanical ventilators, only the minority (25%) installed new negative air pressure rooms. Considering human resources, around 40% hired extra health professionals and increased weekly workload and the majority (68.7%) also suspended annual leaves. Only one center implemented universal screening for childbirth and 6 (37.5%) implemented COVID-19 testing for all suspected cases, while around 60% of the centers only tested moderate/severe cases with hospital admission. Qualitative results showed that main challenges experienced were related to the fear of the virus, concerns about reliability of evidence and lack of resources, with a clear need for mental health support among health professionals. Conclusion Study findings suggest that maternities of the REBRACO initiative underwent major changes in facing the pandemic, with limitations on testing, difficulties in infrastructure and human resources. Leadership, continuous training, implementation of evidence-based protocols and collaborative initiatives are key to transpose the fear of the virus and ascertain adequate healthcare inside maternities, especially in low and middle-income settings. Policy makers need to address the specificities in considering reproductive health and childbirth during the COVID-19 pandemic and prioritize research and timely testing availability.
Droughts can impact ecosystem services provided by reservoirs. Quantifying the intensity of droughts and evaluating their potential effects on the thermal stability of reservoirs are subjects that ...demand greater attention, due to both the importance of temperature on aquatic metabolism and the climate change scenarios that predict an increase in the frequency of extreme weather events. This study aimed to investigate drought periods in ten Brazilian reservoirs and to discuss their effects on each reservoir’s thermal stability. The Standardized Precipitation Index at a twelve month timescale (SPI-12) was applied to identify the hydrological drought periods. One-dimensional vertical hydrodynamic modeling was used to simulate the water balance and the thermal dynamics in the reservoirs. Schmidt Stability Index (St) was calculated to assess the thermal stability of the reservoirs. The drought periods identified by the SPI-12 are related to decreasing water levels of the reservoirs, but the dam operating strategies and the upstream influence of cascading reservoirs are important drivers of fluctuations. A significant difference in St between wet and dry conditions was found only during summer for all reservoirs. Thus, this study identified alterations in thermal regime during drought periods according to the seasons and the reservoirs characteristics.
•Musculoskeletal symptoms are not the only determinants of chikungunya chronic pain.•Early chikungunya RNA detection in saliva and urine are predictors of chronic pain.•Diarrhea in the acute phase of ...chikungunya infection is associated with chronic pain.
Chikungunya can cause persistent chronic joint pain. Knowledge of the risk factors for disease progression is important for preventing and controlling complications. This study aimed to identify factors associated with chronic joint pain.
This prospective cohort study was conducted at a reference center in Rio de Janeiro. Men and women (aged ≥ 18 years) in the acute phase of Chikungunya were included. Clinical data and samples were collected over three months. Risk factors were evaluated using multivariate and logistic regression analyses.
A total of 107 patients were followed up. The incidence rate of joint tenderness was 61.7 %. Female sex (adjusted odds ratio AOR 3.24, 95 % confidence interval CI:1.07–9.77), diarrhea (AOR 5.08, 95 % CI:1.55–16.67), severe joint pain (AOR 4.26, 95 % CI:1.06–17.06), and CHIKV real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction positivity up to 5 days after the onset of symptoms in urine or saliva (AOR 4.56, 95 % CI:1.41–14.77) were identified as predictors of persistent chronic pain.
In a predominantly female population, musculoskeletal symptoms are not the sole determinant of chronic pain, and careful evaluation of CHIKV detection in alternative body fluids (such as saliva and urine) during the early phase of the disease is warranted.
Little is known about how developers and panel members report cost and cost effectiveness considerations in GRADE guideline Evidence-to-Decision (EtD) frameworks. A systematic survey was conducted to ...explore approaches and factors contributing to variability in economic information reporting.
Guideline organization websites were systematically searched to create a convenience sample of guidelines. Reviewers screened published EtD frameworks and generated frequencies of reporting approaches. We used thematic analysis to summarize factors related to variability of economic information reporting.
We included 142 guidelines. The overall rate of reporting economic information was high (91%); however, there was variability across completion of predefined EtD Likert-type judgments (70%), noting information as not identified across EtD framework domains (57%), and providing remarks to justify recommendations (38%). Six themes contributing to variability emerged, related to: intervention, population, payor, provider, healthcare resource use, and economic model building factors. Only 2 guidelines performed a GRADE certainty appraisal of economic outcomes.
Completing predefined EtD Likert-type judgments, specifically reporting a literature review approach, study selection criteria and economic model building limitations, as well as linking these to recommendation justification remarks are potential areas for improved use, adoption and adaptation of recommendation, and transparency of GRADE EtD frameworks.
Herein we describe results for the synthesis and synthetic application of 4‐amino‐3‐(arylselenyl)benzenesulfonamides, and preliminary evaluation of antioxidant, anti‐edematogenic and antinociceptive ...properties. This class of compounds was synthesized in good yields by a reaction of commercially available sulfanilamide and diorganyl diselenides in the presence of 10 mol% of I2. Furthermore, the synthesized compound 4‐amino‐3‐(phenylselenyl)benzenesulfonamide (3 a) was evaluated on complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)‐induced acute inflammatory pain. Dose‐ and time‐response curves of antinociceptive effect of compound 3 a were performed using this experimental model. Also, the effect of compound 3 a was monitored in a hot‐plate test to evaluate the acute non‐inflammatory antinociception. The open‐field test was performed to evaluate the locomotor and exploratory behaviors of mice. Oxidative stress markers, such as glutathione peroxidase activity; reactive species, non‐protein thiols, and lipid peroxidation levels were performed to investigate the antioxidant action of compound 3 a. Our findings suggest that the antioxidant effect of compound 3 a may contribute to reducing the nociception and suppress the signaling pathways of inflammation on the local injury induced by CFA. Thus, compound 3 a reduced the paw edema as well as the hyperalgesic behavior in mice, being a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of painful conditions.
Relief in sight: A series of 4‐amino‐3‐(arylselenyl)benzenesulfonamides were synthesized in good yields by a reaction of commercially available sulfanilamide and diorganyl diselenides in the presence of 10 mol% of I2. In addition, the preliminary evaluation of antioxidant, anti‐edematogenic and antinociceptive properties of new selenium‐sulfa compounds was performed. One of the compounds could be an efficient and potent prototype for the treatment of acute painful conditions.
•This study provides evidence that CoronaVac, an inactivated virus vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, is safe and has a moderate immunogenicity in AAV.•The authors identified that immunogenicity is ...negatively influenced by glucocorticoids.•A mild antibody decay occurs in 6-months with a good response with a booster dose, although lower than health controls.
To evaluate inactivated CoronaVac prime vaccination, antibody decay, booster dose, and safety in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis (AAV) patients.
Fifty-three AAV patients and 106 Controls (CG) received CoronaVac on days: D0 (first dose), D28(second dose), and D210 (booster dose, 32 AAV: 32 CG). The primary outcome was immunogenicity after the second vaccine dose (day 69) assessed by Seroconversion Rates (SC) of anti-SARS-CoV-2 S1/S2 IgG and Neutralizing Antibodies (NAb). Secondary outcomes were safety, immunogenicity (D28/D240), 6-months antibody decay (D210) and the booster dose response (D240).
At D69 SC (65.1% vs. 96.8%, p = 0.0001), GMT (21.3 UA/mL vs. 67.7 UA/mL, p < 0.001) and NAb- positivity (53.7% vs. 80.6%, p = 0.001) were moderate but lower in naïve-AAV patients than CG. Patients without SC used more often IS (93.3% vs. 53.3%, p = 0.015), mycophenolate mofetil (20% vs. 0%, p = 0.037) and prednisone (60.0% vs. 28.6%, p = 0.057) than seroconverted. NAb negativity in AAV patients was associated with prednisone treatment (57.9% vs. 18.2%, p = 0.015) and IS (84.2% vs. 55.0%, p = 0.046). Logistic regression analysis models showed that only prednisone was associated with lower seroconversion (OR = 0.2, 0,95% CI 0.05‒0.86, p = 0.030) and with lower NAb positivity (OR = 0.2, 0,95% CI 0.05‒0.88, p = 0.034). After six months (D69‒D210) a decrease in IgG positivity occurred in 32 AAV patients (15.7%, p = 0.074) and 32 CG (18.7%, p = 0.041). For the NAb positivity, the 6-month decrease was not significant (p = 0.114) whereas a major reduction occurred for CG (p < 0.001). A booster dose (D240) resulted in an increment in IgG-positivity (21.9%, p = 0.023) and NAb-positivity (34.4%, p = 0.006) in AAV patients. No moderate/severe adverse events attributable to the vaccine were observed.
This study provides novel data on the excellent safety and moderate immunogenicity of CoronaVac in AAV patients. A six-month mild antibody waning was observed with a good response to the booster dose, although levels remained lower than CG (CoronavRheum-NCT04754698).
Almost 90% of patients develop pain immediately after oxaliplatin (OXA) treatment. Here, the impact of aging on OXA-induced acute peripheral neuropathy and the potential of 7-chloro-4-(phenylselanyl) ...quinoline (4-PSQ) as a new therapeutic strategy were evaluated. In
Swiss
mice, the oxidative damage and its influence on Mg
2+
—ATPase and Na
+
, K
+
—ATPase activities were investigated. The relationship between the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitrate and nitrite (NOx) levels, the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) with the development of OXA-induced acute peripheral neuropathy was also studied. In this study, it was evidenced that OXA-induced acute peripheral neuropathy was exacerbated by aging through increased oxidative damage as well as Na
+
, K
+
—ATPase, and Mg
+2
—ATPase inhibition. 4-PSQ reversed hypersensitivity induced by OXA and aging-aggravated by reducing ROS and NOx levels, through modulation of GPx and SOD activities. 4-PSQ partially reestablish Na
+
, K
+
—ATPase activity, but not Mg
2+
—ATPase activity. Locomotor and exploratory activities were not affected. This study is the first of its kind, providing new insight into the aging impact on mechanisms involved in OXA-induced acute peripheral neuropathy. Also, it provides evidence on promising 4-PSQ effects on this condition, mainly on aging.
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