Publications by authors named "Alcantara B"

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Hancornia speciosa is a medicinal plant popularly used to treat different medical issues, including infectious diseases. Exploring the therapeutic potentialities of the extracts from medicinal plants combined with conventional antibiotic drugs is a promising horizon, especially considering the rising microbial resistance.

Aim Of The Study: This study aimed to characterize the chemical composition of the ethereal (EEHS) and methanolic (MEHS) extracts of the stem bark of H.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the effects of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection on fertility by analyzing pubertal squirrel monkeys infected with the virus.
  • Laboratory tests confirmed the monkeys' susceptibility to ZIKV, showing viremia and reduced testosterone levels, alongside severe testicular damage observed via ultrasound.
  • Histopathological analyses revealed significant testicular lesions, including cell degeneration in the seminiferous tubules, suggesting potential negative impacts of ZIKV on male fertility.
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Hybrid scaffolds from natural and synthetic polymers have been widely used due to the complementary nature of their physical and biological properties. The aim of the present study, therefore, has been to analyzea bilayer scaffold of poly(lactide-co-glycolide)/fibrin electrospun membrane and fibrin hydrogel layer on a rat skin model. Fibroblasts were cultivated in the fibrin hydrogel layer and keratinocytes on the electrospun membrane to generate a skin substitute.

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Cadmium (Cd) is one of the most threatening soil and water contaminants in agricultural settings. In previous studies, we observed that Cd affects the metabolism and physiology of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants even after short-term exposure. The objective of this research was to use cross-genotype grafting to distinguish between root- and shoot-mediated responses of tomato genotypes with contrasting Cd tolerance at the early stages of Cd exposure.

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Triatoma dimidiata is the main vector of Chagas disease in southern Mexico, Central America and northern South America. As a native vector, it moves readily among domestic, peri‑domestic and sylvatic environments, making it difficult to control only using insecticide as this requires regular application, and re-infestation frequently occurs. Other social innovation alternatives such as those based on Ecohealth principles can be used to tackle the dynamics of the disease in an integral way.

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Species of the genus are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of diseases, such as pain, throat infections, fever, and cold, and they used as depuratives, diuretics, and sedatives. This work reviewed studies carried out with species, highlighting its ethnomedicinal uses and pharmacological and phytochemical potential. This information was collected in the main platforms of scientific research (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science).

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Purpose: To evaluate the influence of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solutions used as dentin pretreatments on microtensile bond strength (µTBS), as well as the dentin/restoration interface micromorphology of a universal adhesive in etch-and-rinse or self-etch mode.

Materials And Methods: Eighty blocks of dentin were submitted to acid conditioning with 35% phosphoric acid (etch-and-rinse), or not (self-etch), and distributed among the treatments (n = 10): CON: Scotchbond Universal/3M Oral Care; DMSO: pretreatment with DMSO; DMSO/water: pretreatment with DMSO in water (1:1); DMSO/ethanol: pretreatment with DMSO in ethanol (1:1). Microtensile bond strength and failure tests were performed after 24-h and 6-month storage.

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This study aims to evaluate the effect of autologous adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AAD-MSC), with and without synthetic absorbable hydroxyapatite (HAP-91), on the bone regeneration in rabbits. Thirty-four female white New Zealand rabbits were submitted to a 10 mm distal diaphyseal radius ostectomy, divided into 3 experimental groups according to the treatment established. The bone gap was filled with 0.

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The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has defined Chagas Disease hotspots in Central America associated with the vector Triatoma spp. Triatoma dimidiata is a native vector adapted to multiple environments, including intra-domestic and peri-domestic habitats. A multi-institutional project named "Alliances for the elimination of Chagas in Central America" was created to help reduce the incidence of the disease in the region.

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Bovine papillomavirus types 2 and 13 can induce tumors in both the cutaneous and mucosal epithelia of cattle. These viral types are associated with the development of benign cutaneous papillomas and malignant lesions in the urinary bladders of cattle, with the latter being known as bovine enzootic hematuria. Among the viral oncoproteins encoded by DNA, the E6 oncoprotein has an important role in cell proliferation and might be related to cancer initiation and promotion.

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Purpose: To use a 3D printed poly (L-lactide) acid (PLLA) and hydroxyapatite (HA) composite as a bone substitute for reconstruction of a critical bone defect in the radius of rabbits.

Methods: A 1.5 cm ostectomy was performed in the radial diaphysis of 60 New Zealand white rabbits.

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The objective of the present study was to assess the response of tomato cultivars with different fruit colors to exposure to increasing Cd levels in the substrate by measuring the impacts of Cd on the oxidative stress indicators and physicochemical features of fruits, as well as plant development and yield components. A completely randomized experiment in a 3 × 3 factorial design [tomato cultivar (which produces purple, red, or white fruits) vs Cd level in the substrate (0, 3.6, or 12 mg kg)] was performed.

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The absence of an adequate animal model for studies has limited the understanding of congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) in humans during the outbreak in America. In this study, we used squirrel monkeys (Saimiri collinsi), a neotropical primate (which mimics the stages of human pregnancy), as a model of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection. Seven pregnant female squirrel monkeys were experimentally infected at three different gestational stages, and we were able reproduce a broad range of clinical manifestations of ZIKV lesions observed in newborn humans.

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During the Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak in Brazil (2015-2016), the clinical manifestations associated with its infection were complex and included miscarriage and congenital malformations, not previously described. In this study, we evaluated the prenatal conditions of pregnant female squirrel monkeys (Saimiri collinsi) infected during different gestational thirds (GTs) and assessed all clinical aspects, diagnostic imaging, viremia and the immune response. In our study, 75% of the infected animals in the 1st GT group had significant clinical manifestations, such as miscarriage and prolonged viremia associated with a late immune response.

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Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Ocotea odorifera (Vell.) Rohwer has been used in traditional medicine in the south of Brazil for the treatment of inflammatory-related conditions, such as rheumatism. However, there is not any scientific evidence for popular use.

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Purpose: Persistent macular hole (PMH) is a challenge for retina surgeons. There are limited surgical techniques described achieving PMH closure. For more than a decade, techniques with blood derivatives have been described without optimal outcomes.

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Metabolomics approaches have become fundamental strategies for the analysis of complex mixtures, guiding the isolation of target compounds by focusing on unpublished or promising pharmacological properties. The discovery of novel anti-inflammatory agents is important due to several limitations regarding their potency, efficacy, and adverse effects. Thus, novel anti-inflammatory candidates are essential, aiming to find agents with better mechanisms of action.

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Purpose: Chemotherapy-induced fatigue (CIF) is a frequent symptom that impairs patient functioning and quality of life. We aimed to evaluate whether systemic chemotherapy can induce a specific gene expression profile in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) of patients with locoregional breast cancer (LRBC) who develop CIF.

Methods: PBMNC were collected from 3 patients who developed CIF before and after their initial cycle of chemotherapy, and RNA-seq was performed in an Ion Torrent™ System.

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Aim: Scaffolds are a promising approach for spinal cord injury (SCI) treatment. FGF-2 is involved in tissue repair but is easily degradable and presents collateral effects in systemic administration. In order to address the stability issue and avoid the systemic effects, FGF-2 was encapsulated into core-shell microfibers by coaxial electrospinning and its in vitro and in vivo potential were studied.

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Zika virus (ZIKV) has recently caused a pandemic disease, and many cases of ZIKV infection in pregnant women resulted in abortion, stillbirth, deaths and congenital defects including microcephaly, which now has been proposed as ZIKV congenital syndrome. This study aimed to investigate the in situ immune response profile and mechanisms of neuronal cell damage in fatal Zika microcephaly cases. Brain tissue samples were collected from 15 cases, including 10 microcephalic ZIKV-positive neonates with fatal outcome and five neonatal control flavivirus-negative neonates that died due to other causes, but with preserved central nervous system (CNS) architecture.

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Despite numerous studies on cadmium (Cd) uptake and accumulation in crops, relatively little is available considering the temporal dynamic of Cd uptake and responses to stress focused on the root system. Here we highlighted the responses to Cd-induced stress in roots of two tomato genotypes contrasting in Cd-tolerance: the tolerant Pusa Ruby and the sensitive Calabash Rouge. Tomato genotypes growing in the presence of 35 μM CdCl exhibited a similar trend of Cd accumulation in tissues, mainly in the root system and overall plants exhibited reduction in the dry matter weight.

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Background: In this study, we evaluated the role of free-living domestic pigeons (Columba livia) as a reservoir of arboviruses in the city of Belém, state of Pará, Brazil. We investigated the presence of antibodies against the most prevalent arboviruses.

Objectives: This study was aimed at evaluating some clinical and physical parameters of domestic pigeons, including the presence of antibodies to Amazon-endemic arboviruses.

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Flavonoids have demonstrated in vivo and in vitro leishmanicidal, trypanocidal, antioxidant, and prooxidant properties. The chemotherapy of trypanosomiasis and leishmaniasis lacks efficacy, presents high toxicity, and is related to the development of drug resistance. Thus, a series of 40 flavonoids were investigated with the purpose of correlating these properties via structure and activity analyses based on integrated networks and QSAR models.

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