Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a central nervous system- (CNS-) related disorder for which there is yet no successful treatment. Within the past several years, cell-based therapies have been explored ...for SCI repair, including the use of pluripotent human stem cells, and a number of adult-derived stem and mature cells such as mesenchymal stem cells, olfactory ensheathing cells, and Schwann cells. Although promising, cell transplantation is often overturned by the poor cell survival in the treatment of spinal cord injuries. Alternatively, the therapeutic role of different cells has been used in tissue engineering approaches by engrafting cells with biomaterials. The latter have the advantages of physically mimicking the CNS tissue, while promoting a more permissive environment for cell survival, growth, and differentiation. The roles of both cell- and biomaterial-based therapies as single therapeutic approaches for SCI repair will be discussed in this review. Moreover, as the multifactorial inhibitory environment of a SCI suggests that combinatorial approaches would be more effective, the importance of using biomaterials as cell carriers will be herein highlighted, as well as the recent advances and achievements of these promising tools for neural tissue regeneration.
Studies on the development of drug delivery systems have increased because these systems have particular characteristics that allow them to improve therapeutics. Among these, lipid nanoparticles ...(solid lipid nanoparticles, SLNs; and nanostructured lipid carriers, NLCs) have demonstrated suitability for drug targeting. The nasal administration of drug-loaded lipid nanoparticles showed effectiveness in treating central nervous system (CNS) disorders, particularly neurodegenerative diseases, because the nasal route (also called intranasal route) allows direct nose-to-brain drug delivery by means of lipid nanoparticles. Nonetheless, the feasibility of this application remains an open field for researchers. Drawbacks must be overcome before reaching the clinic (e.g., drug absorption at subtherapeutic levels, rapid mucociliary clearance). The intranasal administration of drugs for systemic absorption is effective for treating other conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases, infections, severe pain, and menopausal syndrome. In the near future, it is expected that patients will benefit from the advantages of lipid nanoparticle-based formulations, via the nasal/intranasal route, which bypasses the blood-brain barrier (BBB), avoiding first-pass metabolism and gastrointestinal degradation. This review discusses the use of SLNs and NLCs for nasal drug administration. A brief description of the nasal route and the features of SLNs and NLCs is initially provided.
Chemi- and bioluminescence are remarkable light-emitting phenomena, in which thermal energy is converted into excitation energy due to a (bio)chemical reaction. Among a wide variety of ...chemi-/bioluminescent systems, one of the most well-known and studied systems is that of marine imidazopyrazinones, such as Coelenterazine and Cypridina luciferin. Due to the increasing usefulness of their chemi-/bioluminescent reactions in terms of imaging and sensing applications, among others, significant effort has been made over the years by researchers to develop new derivatives with enhanced properties. Herein, we report the synthesis and chemiluminescent characterization of a novel dibrominated Coelenterazine analog. This novel compound consistently showed superior luminescence, in terms of total light output and emission lifetime, to natural imidazopyrazinones and commercially available analogs in aprotic media, while being capable of yellow light emission. Finally, this new compound showed enhanced chemiluminescence in an aqueous solution when triggered by superoxide anion, showing potential to be used as a basis for optimized probes for reactive oxygen species. In conclusion, bromination of the imidazopyrazinone scaffold appears to be a suitable strategy for obtaining Coelenterazines with enhanced properties.
Fornari VJ, Silva‐Sousa YTC, Vanni JR, Pécora JD, Versiani MA, Sousa‐Neto MD. Histological evaluation of the effectiveness of increased apical enlargement for cleaning the apical third of curved ...canals. International Endodontic Journal, 43, 988–994, 2010.
Objective To evaluate the influence of apical size on cleaning of the apical third of curved canals prepared with rotary instruments.
Methodology Forty‐four mesiobuccal canals of maxillary molars teeth were instrumented to different apical sizes (30, 0.02; 35, 0.02; 40, 0.02; 45, 0.02) using a crown‐down technique. After canal preparation, the apical thirds of the roots were submitted to histological processing and examination. The specimens were analysed at 40× magnification and the images were submitted to morphometric analysis with an integration grid to evaluate the percentage of debris and uninstrumented root canal walls. The action of the instruments on the root canal walls was assessed based on the surface regularity, abrupt change on the continuity of root canal walls, and partial or total pre‐dentine removal. The results were statistically compared using one‐way anova with post hoc Tukey test. Pearson’s correlation was performed to identify potential correlations between values.
Results The percentage of uninstrumented root canal dentine was higher when apical enlargement was performed with instruments 30, 0.02 taper (55.64 ± 4.62%) and 35, 0.02 taper (49.03 ± 5.70%) than with instruments 40, 0.02 taper (38.08 ± 10.44%) and 45, 0.02 taper (32.65 ± 8.51%) (P < 0.05). More debris were observed when apical enlargement was performed with instruments 30, 0.02 taper (34.62 ± 9.49%) and 35, 0.02 taper (25.33 ± 7.37%) (P < 0.05). There was a significant correlation between the amount of remaining debris and the perimeter of uninstrumented root canal dentine (r = 0.9130, P < 0.001).
Conclusion No apical enlargement size allowed the root canal walls to be prepared completely. Apical third cleanliness could be predicted by instrument diameter.
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), the most serious chronic disorder of the pulmonary circulation, is characterized by pulmonary vasoconstriction and remodeling, resulting in increased afterload ...on the right ventricle (RV). In fact, RV function is the main determinant of prognosis in PAH. The most frequently used experimental models of PAH include monocrotaline- and chronic hypoxia-induced PAH, which primarily affect the pulmonary circulation. Alternatively, pulmonary artery banding (PAB) can be performed to achieve RV overload without affecting the pulmonary vasculature, allowing researchers to determine the RV-specific effects of their drugs/interventions. In this work, using two different degrees of pulmonary artery constriction, we characterize, in full detail, PAB-induced adaptive and maladaptive remodeling of the RV at 3 wk after PAB surgery. Our results show that application of a mild constriction resulted in adaptive hypertrophy of the RV, with preserved systolic and diastolic function, while application of a severe constriction resulted in maladaptive hypertrophy, with chamber dilation and systolic and diastolic dysfunction up to the isolated cardiomyocyte level. By applying two different degrees of constriction, we describe, for the first time, a reliable and short-duration PAB model in which RV adaptation can be distinguished at 3 wk after surgery. We characterize, in full detail, structural and functional changes of the RV in its response to moderate and severe constriction, allowing researchers to better study RV physiology and transition to dysfunction and failure, as well as to determine the effects of new therapies.
The simultaneous diffusion of inorganic components in the olive pulp in wet brine was modeled based on Fick’s generalized 2nd Law and simulated using the finite element method. The main and crossed ...diffusion coefficients, the film coefficient and the Biot number were determined, with the application of the simplex optimization method, through the minimization of the percentage errors. The errors between the simulated and experimental data were 5.35% for NaCl and 4.77% for KCl and the adjusted main diffusion coefficients were 0.4358 × 10-12 m2 s-1 for NaCl and 0.5408 × 10-12 m2 s-1 for KCl. The system developed to simulate diffusion allows the control and modulation of the salts content that diffuses through the olive pulp.
Variability in snake venom composition is well-documented and crucial for understanding snake ecology and predicting snakebites. In this study, we characterize the venom composition and biological ...activities of newborn female and male Bothrops moojeni and their mother. Our results reveal significant differences between the venom of newborn females and males, demonstrating a broad and diverse range of proteins. The venoms of newborn females showed higher serine protease effects, increased hemorrhagic activity, and greater lethality compared to the venom of newborn males. However, no differences were observed in phospholipase A2 and coagulant activity. The differences in protein composition and toxic activities between maternal and neonatal venom, as well as between the venoms of newborn females and males, contribute to understanding the diverse outcomes of snakebites. These results underscore the importance of considering sex and ontogeny in understanding venom composition in snakes.
Olive samples were subjected to the salting process in brine containing 1196 mol m-3 of NaCl and 402 mol m-3 of KCl. Samples were collected during 60 h and salt concentration values were determined. ...With the finite element method (FEM) and the minimization of the errors percentage between the simulated and experimental values, the mass transfer coefficients in the film (hm) were obtained, being 1.0072 × 10-8 and 1.2499 × 10-8 for NaCl and KCl, respectively. The salts concentration at the olive/brine interface was simulated by FEM and analyzed via SOFM. A network with 4 × 4 topology and 10000 training epochs was used. It was observed that the influence of the stationary film formed on the surface of the olives during the salting process depends on the position, the salt involved in the diffusion and that the concentration of the salts, at each point, varies according to the immersion time.
Objectives
To compare the obtained and expected values of pulmonary function variables between sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic elderly; verify the association between the pulmonary function and the ...indicators and diagnosis of sarcopenia; and establish cut-off points for pulmonary function variables to predict sarcopenia.
Design
Cross-sectional study.
Location
Macapá, Brazil.
Participants
community-dwelling elderly ≥ 60 years old (n=383), both sexes.
Measures
Were evaluated according to variables of pulmonary function (spirometry) and sarcopenia, according to the EWGSOP consensus. The association between pulmonary function and sarcopenia was performed using logistic regression and cut-off points established from the ROC Curve.
Results
The prevalence of sarcopenia was 12.53% (n = 48). Sarcopenic individuals had significantly lower mean values for FVC, FEV
1
, FEF
25–75%
and PEF than non-sarcopenic. After adjustment, spirometric variables were inversely associated with sarcopenia (the increase by one unit of liter in FVC, FEV
1
and FEF
25–75%
decreased the probability of sarcopenia by 59%, 67% and 39%, respectively), and the majority of these variables with the muscular strength indicator. Cut-off points, for elderly men and women, were discriminant criteria for the presence of sarcopenia: FVC (≤2.52 L and ≤1.82 L), FEV
1
(≤2.1 L and ≤1.39 L), PEF (≤3.45 L/s and ≤2.93 L/s) and FEF
5–75%
(≤1.97 L/s and ≤1.74 L/s).
Conclusions
There was loss of pulmonary function in sarcopenic elderly patients and an inverse association with the diagnosis of sarcopenia and its indicators. Cut-off points of pulmonary function variables can be used as a useful tool to discriminate sarcopenia.
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•The effect of 3 antioxidants in the photostabilization of avobenzone were studied.•The most effective antioxidant in sunscreen preparations was ubiquinone.•Antioxidants may be used ...to enhance UV-filter stability.
Avobenzone is one of the most common UVA-filters in sunscreens, and is known to be photounstable. Some of the strategies used to stabilize this filter present some drawbacks like photosensitization reactions. Antioxidants are widely used as cosmetic ingredients that prevent photoageing and complement the photoprotection offered by the UV-filters preventing or reducing photogenerated reactive species. The purpose of this work was to study the effect of antioxidants in the photostabilization of avobenzone. The filter dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide or incorporated in a sunscreen formulation was irradiated with simulated solar radiation (750W/m2). The tested antioxidants were vitamin C, vitamin E, and ubiquinone. The area under the curve of the absorption spectrum for UVA range and the sun protection factor (SPF) were calculated. Vitamin E (1:2), vitamin C (1:0.5) and ubiquinone (1:0.5) were the more effective concentrations increasing the photostability of avobenzone. In sunscreen formulations, the most effective photostabilizer was ubiquinone which also promoted an increase in SPF.
This knowledge is important to improve effectiveness of sunscreen formulation. Antioxidants can be valuable ingredients for sunscreens with a triple activity of filter stabilization, SPF boosting and photoageing prevention.
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