Evaluation of potential novel biomarkers for feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common cardiomyopathy in cats. The diagnosis can be difficult, requiring advanced echocardiographic skills. Additionally, circulating biomarkers (N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide and cardiac troponin I) have several limitations when used for HCM screening.

Stability Studies of Kynurenine Pathway Metabolites in Blood Components Define Optimal Blood Processing Conditions.

The kynurenine pathway (KP) is the main pathway of tryptophan (TRP) metabolism that generates energy for multiple cellular processes. The activity of this pathway has been shown to be dysregulated in multiple human diseases. The resultant modulation of metabolites has been suggested to comprise biomarkers to track disease progression or could identify new therapeutic targets.

Fourth Generation Evaluation as a path for Knowledge Translation in mental health.

Objective: To discuss the use of the Fourth Generation Evaluation methodology as a powerful theoretical-methodological path for the implementation of Knowledge Translation in child and adolescent mental health.

Method: It comprises the description of the stages and fieldwork of a research that evaluated mental health practices aimed at adolescents in a Child and Adolescent Psychosocial Care Center, between August and December 2018, with the health care team.

Results: Using strategies to involve workers in all stages, a dialectical construction of knowledge, the adaptation of the path to the field - with the implementation of interventions suggested by the participants - and the research path itself, in its condition of product/result, enable the interface with Knowledge Translation.

Temporal Profile of Kynurenine Pathway Metabolites in a Rodent Model of Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease.

Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) is an early onset genetic disorder characterized by numerous renal cysts resulting in end stage renal disease. Our study aimed to determine if metabolic reprogramming and tryptophan (Trp) metabolism via the kynurenine pathway (KP) is a critical dysregulated pathway in PKD. Using the Lewis polycystic kidney (LPK) rat model of PKD and Lewis controls, we profiled temporal trends for KP metabolites in plasma, urine, and kidney tissues from 6- and 12-week-old mixed sex animals using liquid and gas chromatography, minimum  = 5 per cohort.

Decreased cerebrospinal fluid kynurenic acid in epileptic spasms: A biomarker of response to corticosteroids.

Background: Epileptic (previously infantile) spasms is the most common epileptic encephalopathy occurring during infancy and is frequently associated with abnormal neurodevelopmental outcomes. Epileptic spasms have a diverse range of known (genetic, structural) and unknown aetiologies. High dose corticosteroid treatment for 4 weeks often induces remission of spasms, although the mechanism of action of corticosteroid is unclear.

A Comprehensive 2D-LC/MS Online Platform for Screening of Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors.

The continuous interest in discovering new bioactive molecules derived from natural products (NP) has stimulated the development of improved screening assays to help overcome challenges in NP-based drug discovery. Here, we describe a unique platform for the online screening of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors without the need for pre-treating the sample. In the current study, we have demonstrated the ability to combine reversed-phase separation with a capillary immobilized enzyme reactor (cIMER) in two-dimensional liquid chromatography system coupled with mass spectrometry detection.

Recent advances in clinical trials targeting the kynurenine pathway.

The kynurenine pathway (KP) is the major catabolic pathway for the essential amino acid tryptophan leading to he production of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. In inflammatory conditions, the activation of the KP leads to the production of several bioactive metabolites including kynurenine, 3-hydroxykynurenine, 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid, kynurenic acid and quinolinic acid. These metabolites can have redox and immune suppressive activity, be neurotoxic or neuroprotective.

DNA polymer films used as drug delivery systems to early-stage diagnose and treatment of breast cancer using 3D tumor spheroids as a model.

The present study examines the design of DNA polymeric films (DNA-PFs) associated with aluminum chloride phthalocyanine (AlClPc) (DNA-PFs-AlClPc), as a promising drug delivery system (DDS), applicable for breast cancer treatment and early-stage diagnosis using photodynamic therapy (PDT). This study starts evaluating (MCF7) as a model for breast cancer cell behavior associated with DNA-PFs. Analyses of the morphological behaviors, biochemical reaction, and MCF7 cell adhesion profile on DNA-PFs were evaluated.

Effects of Sleep Deprivation on the Tryptophan Metabolism.

Sleep has a regulatory role in maintaining metabolic homeostasis and cellular functions. Inadequate sleep time and sleep disorders have become more prevalent in the modern lifestyle. Fragmentation of sleep pattern alters critical intracellular second messengers and neurotransmitters which have key functions in brain development and behavioral functions.

Novel immune biomarkers in complex regional pain syndrome.

We investigated serum levels of 29 cytokines and immune-activated kynurenine and tetrahydrobiopterin pathway metabolites in 15 complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) subjects and 14 healthy controls. Significant reductions in interleukin-37 and tryptophan were found in CRPS subjects, along with positive correlations between kynurenine/tryptophan ratio and TNF-α levels with kinesiophobia, tetrahydrobiopterin levels with McGill pain score, sRAGE, and xanthurenic acid and neopterin levels with depression, anxiety and stress scores. Using machine learning, we identified a set of binary variables, including IL-37 and GM-CSF, capable of distinguishing controls from established CRPS subjects.

Results of the Nursing Outcomes Classification/NOC for patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Objective: To analyze the application of nursing outcomes and indicators selected from the Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC) to evaluate patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in outpatient follow-up.

Method: Outcome-based research. First, a consensus was achieved between nurses specialized in mental health (MH) and in the nursing process to select NOC-related outcomes and indicators, followed by the elaboration of their conceptual and operational definitions.

Association between Manchester Triage System discriminators and nursing diagnoses.

Objective: To analyze the association between Manchester Triage System flowchart discriminators and nursing diagnoses in adult patients classified as clinical priority I (emergency) and II (very urgent).

Method: Cross-sectional study conducted in an emergency department in southern Brazil between April and August 2014. The sample included 219 patients.

Low-level laser therapy for treatment of venous ulcers evaluated with the Nursing Outcome Classification: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Different methods are available for the treatment of venous ulcers. Most current approaches focus on a combination of topical and compressive therapy. Adjuvant low-level laser therapy may be helpful in lesions with a protracted healing course, but evidence for its use is still limited.

Tetrahydrobiopterin improves hippocampal nitric oxide-linked long-term memory.

Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is synthesized by the combined action of three metabolic pathways, namely de novo synthesis, recycling, and salvage pathways. The best-known function of BH4 is its mandatory action as a natural cofactor of the aromatic amino acid hydroxylases and nitric oxide synthases. Thus, BH4 is essential for the synthesis of nitric oxide, a retrograde neurotransmitter involved in learning and memory.

Validation of the nursing interventions and activities for patients on hemodialytic therapy.

Objective: To validate interventions and nursing activities proposed by the Nursing Interventions Classification for patients with acute renal failure or acute chronic renal disease in hemodialysis therapy with the Excess Fluid Volume and Risk for Imbalanced Fluid Volume nursing diagnoses.

Methods: Validation of content with 19 expert nurses from a university hospital. The data collection was made from September to November 2011 through instruments that contained the interventions and nursing activities in study.

Factors that influence care priority for chest pain patients using the manchester triage system.

Aims And Objectives: To analyse crucial factors for determining care priority for patients with acute myocardial infarction based on the Manchester Triage System.

Background: Triage is the first potentially critical step in the care of myocardial infarction patients. However, there are still very few studies on the factors interfering in the lack of care priority for these patients, impacting their treatment and prognosis.

High-resolution melting analysis for detection of a single-nucleotide polymorphism and the genotype of the myostatin gene in warmblood horses.

OBJECTIVE To develop a high-resolution melting (HRM) assay to detect the g.66493737C>T polymorphism in the myostatin gene (MSTN) and determine the frequency of 3 previously defined g.66493737 genotypes (T/T, T/C, and C/C) in warmblood horses.